OSHA (all of US) Reject Flu Shot Mandates for Healthcare Workers

January 27, 2012

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Sheri

THIS IS FOR ALL OF THE US...........federal

\OSHA Reject Flu Shot Mandates for Healthcare

Workers

OSHA Says “No” to Flu Shot Mandates Without Exemptions

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued a

statement opposing mandatory flu shots for health care workers that do

not contain exemptions for medical, religious and persona/philosophical

belief reasons. OSHA stated:

“ While we are supportive of the Healthy People 2020 goal of

a 90% vaccination rate, we have seen no evidence that demonstrates that

such a high rate is in fact necessary. Furthermore, the current influenza

vaccine is no magic bullet. The current state of influenza vaccine

technology requires annual reformulation and revaccination and the

efficacy is quite variable. Every year there are numerous circulating

strains of influenza that are not included in the vaccine. In years where

the antigenic match is good, the vaccine only provides protection against

the 3 strains in the formulation. In years when the antigenic match is

poor, the vaccine may provide no protection at all. The limits of current

influenza vaccine technology are especially problematic in the context of

a mandatory influenza vaccination program that results in job loss.

Lastly, reliance on a mandatory influenza vaccination policy may provide

healthcare workers, health care facility management and patients with an

unwarranted sense of security and result in poor adherence to other

infection control practices that prevent all types of infections, not

just influenza. Influenza vaccination has always been just one part of a

comprehensive multi-layered infection control program.”

OSHA’s complete position statement was submitted to the National

Vaccine Advisory Committee (NVAC) last September and appears in the

NVAC's certified minutes as Appendix B on page 25

here.

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