Safety

Healthcare poll indicates at least 25% of workers won't get H1N1 shots

Hospital Safety Connection, September 16, 2009

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The results of our informal industry poll show that at least one-quarter of hospital safety professionals and other healthcare workers will not obtain H1N1 swine flu shots as part of their jobs this fall.
 
The poll was posted online for the last two weeks on HCPro’s main safety web site. We asked, “Will you get an H1N1 swine flu vaccination as part of your work duties?”
 
Here’s the breakdown of the 192 responses we received:
  • Yes--52%
  • No--25%
  • Not sure yet--22%
The “yes” responses for the H1N1 vaccine are higher than the roughly 40% vaccination rate among healthcare workers typically seen each year for seasonal flu shot. The “not sure” responses have the potential to swing either the “yes” or “no” categories significantly.
 
One reader pointed out to us that New York state’s emergency rule mandating healthcare workers in hospitals receive seasonal flu and H1N1 shots may have influenced the poll’s “yes” results, which is a valid observation.
 
For a good analysis of New York’s emergency rule, see this post in our sister blog, OSHA Healthcare Advisor.



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