Hospitals that implemented an influenza vaccination mandate for healthcare workers with consequences for noncompliance increased vaccination rates, according to a study in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology.
Researchers examined the impact of hospital policies and state laws on healthcare worker influenza vaccination rates in 2010. Overall, hospital mandates with consequences for noncompliance, as well as the racial makeup of each state's citizens, were associated with an increase in healthcare worker vaccination rates of 3 percent to 12 percent.
Influenza vaccination mandates that included consequences other than termination, such as masking or reassignment, increased rates by an estimated 11.5 percentage points. In addition, vaccination rates increased 1 percent for each 0.31 percent increase in the number of white persons in the state.
State law was not significantly associated with healthcare worker influenza vaccination rates.
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