All employees at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson are now required to get a flu shot, according to a report by The Clarion-Ledger.
Last year, when the flu vaccine was voluntary, just 60 percent of employees were vaccinated. Rathel "Skip" Nolan, MD, the director of UMMC's Division of Infectious Diseases, told The Clarion-Ledger that vaccination rate was "a patient safety issue."
Under UMMC's new mandatory flu shot policy, employees can receive shots for free. They have until November 11 to get the vaccine or seek religious or medical exemption, according to the report.