Immunization of Health-Care Providers: Necessity and Public Health Policies

Abstract

Health-care providers (HCPs) are at increased risk for exposure to vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) in the workplace. The rationale for immunization of HCPs relies on the need to protect them and, indirectly, their patients from health-care-associated VPDs. Published evidence indicates significant immunity gaps for VPDs of HCPs globally. Deficits in knowledge and false perceptions about VPDs and vaccines are the most common barriers for vaccine uptake and may also influence communication about vaccines between HCPs and their patients. Most countries have immunization recommendations for HCPs; however, there are no universal policies and significant heterogeneity exists between countries in terms of vaccines, schedules, frame of implementation (recommendation or mandatory), and target categories of HCPs. Mandatory influenza immunization policies for HCPs have been implemented with high vaccine uptake rates. Stronger recommendations for HCP immunization and commitment at the level of the health-care facility are critical in order to achieve high vaccine coverage rates. Given the importance to health, mandatory immunization policies for VPDs that can cause serious morbidity and mortality to vulnerable patients should be considered.

Protecting Healthcare Personnel in Outpatient Settings: The Influence of Mandatory Versus Nonmandatory Influenza Vaccination Policies on Workplace Absenteeism During Multiple Respiratory Virus Seasons

“…14 Mandatory vaccination policies substantially increase rates of HCP vaccination. 5,29,30,31 However, HCP acceptance of voluntary vaccination continues to be problematic. 32 Vaccination of HCP has previously been advocated as an effective means to control the spread of influenza and prevent absenteeism.…”

Knowledge, Attitude and Behaviours towards Recommended Vaccinations among Healthcare Workers

“…This opens a window onto two related issues: the workplace and the mandatory implementation of vaccinations among HCWs. Concerning the first issue, one must recognize that HCWs are at increased risk for exposure to vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) in the workplace, so the reason for immunizing HCWs is based on the need to protect them and, indirectly, their patients from healthcare-associated VPDs [31]. …”

“…Moreover, we need to consider that many countries have immunization recommendations in place for HCWs. On the other hand, no universal policies do exist and a lack of homogeneity between countries is present concerning the type of vaccines, schedules, frame of implementation (recommendation or mandatory), and target categories of HCWs [31]. …”

“…In relation to the mandatory vaccination for HCWs, according to Maltezou and Poland, it should be considered that all infectious diseases can be transmitted to susceptible patients, such as hepatitis B, influenza, measles, mumps, pertussis, rubella and varicella [31]. However, the probability of adherence to mandatory vaccinations by HCWs is still uncertain and seems to be VPD-specific [4].…”

Life-course immunization as a gateway to health

“…Consequently, vaccination of HCPs in hospitals and geriatric settings is an important measure to control transmission of infectious diseases. However, vaccination coverage is often low among HCPs despite vaccination recommendations being in place for more than three decades in many countries [98]. In the United States, the vaccination coverage rate among HCPs was 42% for Tdap in 2014 and 79% for seasonal influenza vaccine during the 2016-2017 season [99,100].…”