I disagree with Dr. Brian Zachariah’s statement that influenza vaccination of health care personnel lacks “proven beneficience” (Letters, November 2010, p. 2), as several studies have shown decrements in staff absenteeism and nosocomial transmission of influenza in highly vaccinated health care worker cohorts. Influenza vaccination should be mandatory as a condition of employment in the same fashion rubella immunity, tuberculosis testing, and hepatitis B immunity are. Just as patients are empowered to ask if their health care provider has washed his or her hands, they should be empowered to inquire regarding influenza vaccination status.
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ACEP News: Vol 30 – No 01 – January 2011Amesh A. Adalja, M.D.
Pittsburgh
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