A mandatory healthcare personnel influenza vaccination program at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Ill., has achieved nearly 100 percent compliance with less than 0.2 percent of employees refusing and leaving their position, according to a study to be presented at the 40th Annual Conference of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., June 9.
Loyola University Medical Center established a mandatory flu vaccination policy for employees, students, volunteers and contractors in 2009. In the first year, 99.2 percent of healthcare personnel received the vaccine, 0.7 percent were exempted for religious or medical reasons and 0.1 percent refused vaccination and terminated employment. The high flu vaccination rate has continued: In 2012, 98.7 percent of personnel received vaccination, 1.2 percent were exempted and only 0.06 refused.
Of the five people who refused vaccination in 2012, three were unpaid volunteers who later decided to receive vaccination and returned to the hospital, and two were part-time staff, meaning the true vaccine-refusal rate was 0.002 percent, according to the news release.
Over four years, fewer than 15 healthcare personnel out of approximately 8,000 — less than 0.19 percent — chose to end employment rather than receive vaccination, according to the release.
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Loyola University Medical Center established a mandatory flu vaccination policy for employees, students, volunteers and contractors in 2009. In the first year, 99.2 percent of healthcare personnel received the vaccine, 0.7 percent were exempted for religious or medical reasons and 0.1 percent refused vaccination and terminated employment. The high flu vaccination rate has continued: In 2012, 98.7 percent of personnel received vaccination, 1.2 percent were exempted and only 0.06 refused. Of the five people who refused vaccination in 2012, three were unpaid volunteers who later decided to receive vaccination and returned to the hospital, and two were part-time staff, meaning the true vaccine-refusal rate was 0.002 percent, according to the news release.
Over four years, fewer than 15 healthcare personnel out of approximately 8,000 — less than 0.19 percent — chose to end employment rather than receive vaccination, according to the release.
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