To the Editor: Health care workers (HCWs) play an important role in influenza prevention. They are at risk of exposure and subsequent illness which can lead to transmission to close contacts and patients.1 Conversely, high HCW influenza vaccination rates can reduce nosocomial influenza, decrease sickness absenteeism and are cost-effective.2,3 Despite this and the increasingly visible voluntary vaccination programs, the rates of influenza vaccination among HCWs in Australia vary between 16.3% and 58.7%.4 The Victorian Department of Health has recently stated that HCW vaccination must be > 75% in 2014.
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- 1. Salgado CD, Giannetta ET, Hayden FG, Farr BM. Preventing nosocomial influenza by improving the vaccine acceptance rate of clinicians. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2004; 25: 923-928.
- 2. Chan SS. Does vaccinating ED health care workers against influenza reduce sickness absenteeism? Am J Emerg Med 2007; 25: 808-811.
- 3. Burls A, Jordan R, Barton P, et al. Vaccinating healthcare workers against influenza to protect the vulnerable – is it a good use of healthcare resources? A systematic review of the evidence and an economic evaluation. Vaccine 2006; 24: 4212-4221.
- 4. Seale H, Macintyre CR. Seasonal influenza vaccination in Australian hospital health care workers: a review. Med J Aust 2011; 195: 336-338. <MJA full text>
- 5. Poland GA. Mandating influenza vaccination for health care workers: putting patients and professional ethics over personal preference. Vaccine 2010; 28: 5757-5759.
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