NJ & OSHA Reject Flu Shot Mandates for Healthcare Workers

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SPREAD THE WORD so people know of the exemptions!

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Sheri

http://www.nvic.org/NVIC-Vaccine-News/January-2012/NVIC-Defends-Vaccine-Exemptions.aspx#OSHA

NJ & OSHA Reject Flu Shot

Mandates for Healthcare Workers

New Jersey’s Governor Christie pocket vetoed a bill that would mandate

flu vaccine for health care workers. The governor used the pocket

veto, which is the only way to veto a bill without returning it to the

legislature for a possible vote to override the veto. Thanks to Rita

Marie who posted this information on NVIC’s

FaceBook wall. You can thank Governor Christie for his decisive

action and NOT SIGNING this bill at (609) 777-2500 or (609)

292-6000.

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.

[Guest guest]

Awesome!!