Pennsylvania's Geisinger Health's Mandatory Mask Policy Increases Employee Flu Vaccination

A mask mandate for hospital employees who chose not to undergo flu vaccination led to a dramatic increase in healthcare employee flu vaccination rates at Geisinger Health System in Danville, Pa., according to a Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of American news release.

Many hospitals have implemented a mandatory approach to increase vaccination rates among staff, in which employees who chose not to get vaccinated lost their jobs. Geisinger took a slightly different approach, which allowed staff members to opt out of receiving the flu vaccine for ethical or medical reasons. However, those who did opt out were required to wear a facemask for the entire flu season, from Nov. 1-March 31, whenever they were within five or six feet of any person. Further, all vaccinated employees were known by a campaign sticker placed on their identification badge.

After implementing the approach, Geisinger's flu vaccination rates were 95 percent among clinical employees and 92 percent among all employees by mid-December.

Read the news release about flu vaccination at Geisinger Health System.

Related Articles on Flu Vaccinations:
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