Post by Lavinia on Sept 24, 2009 17:56:18 GMT -5
Believing in evidence based practice, I've been searching for studies concerning patient outcomes in relation to influenza vaccination of health care workers.
Any of the studies I have found are in long term care. Ironic that this regulation is not in effect for nursing homes as the regulatory body that adopted it does not have any jurisdiction over them. (This regulation applies to article 28 facilities only - acute care)
Seems to me that patient outcomes in relation to vaccination of HCW in acute care have not been studied adequately to provide the evidence such a mandate should require. Below is my evidence to back up that statement:
From the CDC MMWR: www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5502a1.htm
"Randomized trials assessing the impact of staff vaccination
on patient outcomes in acute care facilities have not
been conducted, but low staff vaccination coverage has been
correlated with influenza outbreaks in hospitals."
and a quote from the a 2009 MMWR- www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/rr/rr5808.pdf
"Additional data on indirect effects of vaccination also are needed to quantify the benefits of influenza vaccination of HCP in protecting their patients (308)"
Could this be the reason that the CDC has not recommended mandatory vaccination? Perhaps they feel obliged to base such a recommendation on solid science.
It looks like NYS health care workers will be providing the needed data for further study- whether they want to or not! Normally research subjects must give their consent- but not in this case.
BTW- I get my flu shot every year- by choice.
Any of the studies I have found are in long term care. Ironic that this regulation is not in effect for nursing homes as the regulatory body that adopted it does not have any jurisdiction over them. (This regulation applies to article 28 facilities only - acute care)
Seems to me that patient outcomes in relation to vaccination of HCW in acute care have not been studied adequately to provide the evidence such a mandate should require. Below is my evidence to back up that statement:
From the CDC MMWR: www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5502a1.htm
"Randomized trials assessing the impact of staff vaccination
on patient outcomes in acute care facilities have not
been conducted, but low staff vaccination coverage has been
correlated with influenza outbreaks in hospitals."
and a quote from the a 2009 MMWR- www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/rr/rr5808.pdf
"Additional data on indirect effects of vaccination also are needed to quantify the benefits of influenza vaccination of HCP in protecting their patients (308)"
Could this be the reason that the CDC has not recommended mandatory vaccination? Perhaps they feel obliged to base such a recommendation on solid science.
It looks like NYS health care workers will be providing the needed data for further study- whether they want to or not! Normally research subjects must give their consent- but not in this case.
BTW- I get my flu shot every year- by choice.