Post by Draconian Bullshit on Apr 11, 2013 22:53:08 GMT -5
HEALTH workers at a major Victorian public hospital are being put on notice that they could be forced to get mandatory flu shots, to protect them from infecting vulnerable patients.
Melbourne Health, which runs the Royal Melbourne Hospital, has set a new vaccination rate of 95 per cent across its 8000 workers, doubling its current compliance level.
Chief executive Dr Gareth Goodier said he supported mandatory influenza vaccination among health care workers, but he was trialling the new voluntary compliance rate first.
Hospital bosses would even consider moving a staff member who was not vaccinated to another area if they worked in high-risk areas, such as a cancer ward.
"This is not a trivial disease," Dr Goodier said.
"Twenty years ago we treated the flu a bit like it was a cold; now we know it can kill people."
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Flu experts are calling for all health services to introduce high flu benchmarks for frontline staff to stop them putting at risk the elderly, children and those with chronic illnesses.
Dr Goodier said many health services already made it compulsory to have diphtheria, whooping cough and measles vaccinations.
"I would not rule out making it mandatory, but I would hope I do not have to do that."
He said it would protect patients, as well as staff family members and the broader community.
"We understand personal preference, but we also have to look at the greater good, for the organisation and the patients," Dr Goodier said.
Two weeks after introducing the new compliance rate, Melbourne Health had vaccinated 32 per cent of staff, close to its annual average of 40 per cent.
Some North American and European hospitals have a 99 per cent compliance target.
Dr Goodier has also introduced a 95 per cent hand hygiene compliance rate.
Influenza Specialist Group chairman Dr Alan Hampson said he supported the Melbourne Health move and encouraged more health services to follow.
He supported mandatory vaccination, unless there was a valid medical exception, but said there was no consensus among members.
"Some healthcare workers argue it is unethical to mandate vaccination. I would equally argue it is unethical to put patients at risk when you can reduce that risk."
Australian Medical Association Victoria president Dr Stephen Parnis supported the target rate, but said mandatory flu jabs would be unethical and inappropriate.
Lucie.vandenberg@news.com.au
www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/health-workers-could-be-forced-to-get-mandatory-flu-shots/story-e6frf7kx-1226618583401
Melbourne Health, which runs the Royal Melbourne Hospital, has set a new vaccination rate of 95 per cent across its 8000 workers, doubling its current compliance level.
Chief executive Dr Gareth Goodier said he supported mandatory influenza vaccination among health care workers, but he was trialling the new voluntary compliance rate first.
Hospital bosses would even consider moving a staff member who was not vaccinated to another area if they worked in high-risk areas, such as a cancer ward.
"This is not a trivial disease," Dr Goodier said.
"Twenty years ago we treated the flu a bit like it was a cold; now we know it can kill people."
Access all Areas. $1 for the first 28 days. Only $2.95 a week thereafter. Learn more.
Flu experts are calling for all health services to introduce high flu benchmarks for frontline staff to stop them putting at risk the elderly, children and those with chronic illnesses.
Dr Goodier said many health services already made it compulsory to have diphtheria, whooping cough and measles vaccinations.
"I would not rule out making it mandatory, but I would hope I do not have to do that."
He said it would protect patients, as well as staff family members and the broader community.
"We understand personal preference, but we also have to look at the greater good, for the organisation and the patients," Dr Goodier said.
Two weeks after introducing the new compliance rate, Melbourne Health had vaccinated 32 per cent of staff, close to its annual average of 40 per cent.
Some North American and European hospitals have a 99 per cent compliance target.
Dr Goodier has also introduced a 95 per cent hand hygiene compliance rate.
Influenza Specialist Group chairman Dr Alan Hampson said he supported the Melbourne Health move and encouraged more health services to follow.
He supported mandatory vaccination, unless there was a valid medical exception, but said there was no consensus among members.
"Some healthcare workers argue it is unethical to mandate vaccination. I would equally argue it is unethical to put patients at risk when you can reduce that risk."
Australian Medical Association Victoria president Dr Stephen Parnis supported the target rate, but said mandatory flu jabs would be unethical and inappropriate.
Lucie.vandenberg@news.com.au
www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/health-workers-could-be-forced-to-get-mandatory-flu-shots/story-e6frf7kx-1226618583401