Draft 1:  ACPM Resolution on
Mandatory Flu Vaccination for Healthcare Workers 

Introduced by:    ACPM 

Subject:              Mandatory Flu Vaccination for Healthcare Workers

Whereas, Influenza infection is a serious illness causing significant morbidity and mortality and adversely affecting the public health each year; and

Whereas, Influenza-infected health-care personnel can transmit the deadly virus to vulnerable patients; and

Whereas, Influenza-related absenteeism among health-care personnel can cause significant reductions in a health care organization’s capacity to deliver care, especially during the time of an epidemic or pandemic; and

Whereas, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee and Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommend that all health-care personnel be vaccinated annually against influenza and that facilities that employ health-care personnel provide vaccine to their staff by using evidence-based approaches that maximize vaccination rates (http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr55e209a1.htm); and

Whereas, Influenza vaccination coverage among health-care personnel remains low (< 50%) (http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr55e209a1.htm); and

Whereas, Voluntary educational campaigns have failed to achieve optimal vaccination rates among health-care personnel; and

Whereas, The need to achieve a very high influenza vaccination rate among health-care personnel is a patient safety issue; and

Whereas, AMA policy indicates that “Frontline physicians have an increased ethical obligation to avail themselves of safe and effective protective and preventive measures (for example, influenza vaccine)” (CEJA Report 1, I-05; Policy H-140.873); and

Whereas, The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology has endorsed mandatory influenza vaccination for health-care professionals who have direct patient contact (http://www.apic.org/Content/NavigationMenu/Press/NewsReleases/mand_flu_vaccination.pdf); therefore be it

RESOLVED, That our American Medical Association encourage health care organizations to require influenza vaccination for all health care personnel with direct patient contact (except in the case of medical contraindications), as long as such mandatory programs are not prohibited by state law or contractual obligations; and be it further

RESOLVED, That our AMA encourage healthcare organizations to provide incentives for health care personnel to receive an influenza vaccination when mandatory programs cannot be implemented.