NVAC Approves Rcommendations on Health Worker Flu Vaccinations

“NVAC Approves Recommendations on Health Worker
Flu Vaccination”

CIDRAP

http://www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/influenza/general/news/feb0812vote.html

The National Vaccine Advisory Committee (NVAC), a group of outside experts who advise the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services on vaccine policy issues, has approved a set of voluntary steps aimed at increasing flu vaccination among healthcare workers.  The five-step
plan is geared to help hospitals and other health facilities reach the Healthy People 2020 goal that 90 percent of healthcare workers receive the flu
vaccine.  The recommendations call on hospitals to develop comprehensive infection control programs that feature education on how to prevent flu
transmission and integrate flu vaccination efforts into existing flu prevention programs.  In addition, federal health officials are urged to standardize
methods of measuring flu vaccination rates for healthcare personnel. 

Another suggestion was that healthcare employers strongly consider mandatory flu vaccination policies, while the last recommendation calls for new and improved influenza vaccines.