APIC Voices Support for Annual Coverage Goals for Influenza Vaccination of Healthcare Personnel

Written by Rob Kurtz | January 27, 2012

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The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology has submitted comments to the National Vaccine Advisory Committee Subgroup on Health Care Personnel Influenza Vaccination in support of its draft report intended to provide guidance on how to achieve the Healthy People 2020 annual coverage goals for influenza vaccination of healthcare personnel.

About a year ago, APIC published a paper recommending mandatory influenza immunization as a condition of employment within healthcare facilities.

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The position paper, "Influenza Vaccination Should Be a Condition of Employment for Healthcare Personnel, Unless Medically Contraindicated (pdf)," was published in response to the low rates of influenza immunization among healthcare personnel nationwide. APIC acknowledged at the time that the current policy of voluntary vaccination had not been effective and healthcare personnel have not achieved acceptable vaccination rates.

APIC has also voiced its support of the CMS rule requiring facilities to report healthcare personnel influenza vaccination rates through the CDC's National Healthcare Safety Network.

To view APIC's comments to the National Vaccine Program Office, click here (pdf).

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