Hospital Policy on Influenza Immunization

Influenza vaccination of healthcare workers has been recommended as one way of enhancing vaccination rates. The effect of immunity in public health often raises extreme polarization especially involving mandatory treatment for healthcare workers. While several institutions have achieved a higher vaccination rate by mandating healthcare worker vaccination, the method continues to be questioned due to the ethical aspects of infringing personal rights. The problem also comes from potential legal disputes between employees and institutions when coercive measures are used to mandate the vaccination. This paper describes the mandatory vaccination policy and associated ethical issues concerning the plan. The policy mandates healthcare employees to receive the injection, failure to which could result in disciplinary action including termination of employment

The decision to implement this policy has to be based on the benefits of mandating influenza vaccination for healthcare workers compared to the ethical aspect of autonomy. Mandatory vaccination can be enforced for two reasons of beneficence and non-maleficence as well as professional obligations of providing care to the patient. Healthcare providers have a professional responsibility to do no harm and protect public health in the face of preventable infectious diseases. Ethical obligations for healthcare providers include respecting the patient’s autonomy, treating all patients fairly, doing no harm and doing good ( Galanakis et al., 2013). In this regard, mandatory vaccination is one way of fulfilling these ethical obligations as it prevents injury by reducing transmission of preventable diseases.

Prioritizing patients 

Healthcare workers have an ethical obligation to prioritize the health of patients over themselves. Various healthcare codes of ethics clearly state this factor, and mandatory influenza vaccination is one way of honoring this commitment to the best interests of patients. There is evidence that vaccination can help avoid transmitting infections from healthcare workers to patients, and therefore an essential moral requirement is that healthcare workers treat vaccination as an obligation ( Pro & Con, 2015) . Healthcare workers can also provide an excellent example to the public by getting vaccinated. Avoiding to take the vaccine can fuel existing fears and set the wrong standard for the people.

Duty to protect 

Healthcare workers have a distinct responsibility towards vulnerable patients, especially those who cannot defend themselves or are more susceptible to influenza. They must defend those who cannot protect themselves such as newborns, infants and the elderly through vaccinations, which is grounded in the professional commitment to ensure adequate availability of care ( Galanakis et al., 2013) . The mandatory vaccination is an essential step in fulfilling this duty and can be one way of guaranteeing healthcare workers to fulfill this obligation

For example, health works are at increased risk of contracting influenza when coming in contact with the infected patients, which makes it essential to receive the mandatory vaccination. Immune healthcare workers would be protected from the infection and also stop the possibility of transmitting to colleagues and patients. Healthcare workers are targets for compulsory influenza vaccination since they have to maintain good health and assist patients. The idea of vulnerable patients such as the elderly becoming infected by healthcare workers makes it essential to implement mandatory vaccination policies.

Beneficence and non-maleficence 

The concept of mandatory vaccination is often a controversial ethical and moral issue which should be evaluated based on the principles of beneficence and nonmaleficence. All healthcare workers must honor the core medical ethics principle of beneficence, which entails doing good to benefit others. Similarly, non-maleficence entails not inflicting harm, which is a crucial argument for mandatory influenza vaccination for medical employees ( Galanakis et al., 2013) . The injections provide that healthcare employees do not infect patients with a virus they may be carrying. Healthcare providers should honor the core medical ethics principle of no harm. If evidence shows that mandatory vaccination can help prevent disease transmission to patients and other individuals, then a moral requirement demands that healthcare providers take up the immunization

Autonomy of workers 

Another ethical issue that arises from mandatory influenza vaccination of healthcare workers is infringing of personal liberty in the name of patient safety. Freedom refers to an action where an individual intentionally and with understanding chooses to do something without controlling influences ( Miller & Ross, 2010) . Respect to the individual’s rights to exercise autonomy in healthcare decisions also plays out in this policy since no worker or professional should be compelled to accept any medical intervention against his will. Moral presumption of individual rights and the need to avoid infringing their liberties play a role in the controversy of mandatory vaccination. However, healthcare employees should be allowed to decline treatment if they have valid reasons such as religious aspects and not for any other purpose. The autonomy of individuals and their right to control their bodies cannot take precedence over the professional obligation that healthcare workers have towards patients ( Miller & Ross, 2010) . In this case, the focus should be on prioritizing the health of patients over the autonomy of workers. Mandates can reduce flu infections in the community, and administrators can be guided by the principle to endorse mandates.

Conclusion 

In conclusion, mandatory vaccination policies can be the only way to combat outbreaks in health facilities. They influenza vaccination for all healthcare workers is ethically justified based on several principles such as prioritizing patient’s interests above them, beneficence and non-maleficence, the requirement to protect the vulnerable as well as obligation to set an excellent example to the public. There is strong agreement that healthcare worker influenza vaccination is a useful measure to reduce the spread of infection before it becomes a pandemic. In this regard, I support the mandating of healthcare worker vaccination.

Recommendation 

Therefore, mandatory vaccination of healthcare workers against influenza is beneficial for the benefit of patients. However, since ethical issues of autonomy arise due to these mandates, the hospital should consider making immunization available for staff at convenient times and places and provide them for free to all healthcare personnel ( Pro & Con, 2015) . The employees should also be allowed the freedom to decline vaccinations for religious, medical or philosophical reasons

Alternatively, when in case the health facility purpose to mandate vaccinations to healthcare workers, the organization must ensure the immunity is an informed process where health workers understand the benefits of associated obligations. They should include education programs for all healthcare personnel addressing the need for vaccination and the logic required to protect vulnerable patients. At the same time, the mandates should not have harsh consequences such as employment termination as they violate healthcare worker’s autonomy due to the inherent coerciveness ( Galanakis et al., 2013) . For example, the religious, medical and philosophical exemptions should be considered.

References

Crum, D. M. (2016). Mandatory influenza vaccinations for medical workers: the degradation of ethics.  J Am Phys Surg ,  21 , 85-87. 

Galanakis, E., Jansen, A., Lopalco, P. L., & Giesecke, J. (2013). Ethics of mandatory vaccination for healthcare workers.  Eurosurveillance ,  18 (45), 20627. 

Miller, A. C., & Ross, D. W. (2010). Mandated influenza vaccines and health care workers’ autonomy.  AMA Journal of Ethics ,  12 (9), 706-710. 

Pro, M. G., Pro, P. M., & Con, M. M. (2015). Should influenza immunization be mandatory for all health care providers?.  The Canadian Journal of Hospital Pharmacy ,  68 (1).