The California Senate has approved a bill that would require healthcare professionals who decline influenza vaccination to wear a mask, according to a Sacramento Bee report.
Sen. Lois Wolk (D-Davis) predicts the bill will increase influenza vaccination rates among healthcare personnel from 64 percent to 90 percent. The bill, which is co-sponsored by the California Medical Association, drew criticism from the California Nurses Association, the California Labor Federation and the Service Employees International Union. These groups argue the mask would serve as a "scarlet letter" to those who choose not to undergo vaccination for personal reasons.
Sen. Lois Wolk (D-Davis) predicts the bill will increase influenza vaccination rates among healthcare personnel from 64 percent to 90 percent. The bill, which is co-sponsored by the California Medical Association, drew criticism from the California Nurses Association, the California Labor Federation and the Service Employees International Union. These groups argue the mask would serve as a "scarlet letter" to those who choose not to undergo vaccination for personal reasons.
Related Articles on Flu Vaccination:
Many Massachusetts Hospital Workers Still Lagging on Vaccinations
HHS Releases Updated National Action Plan to Eliminate Healthcare-Associated Infections
Utah Department of Health Report Shows Vaccination Rates Among Healthcare Workers