Nurses and other healthcare professionals are exposed to influenza not only in their communities, but also in their workplaces. Why, then, do fewer than 40% of all healthcare workers seek influenza vaccinations each year?1

Healthcare professionals-and nurses in particular-are key to preventing the spread of influenza, a debilitating and highly contagious respiratory infection. Influenza is caused by a virus and leads to an average of 200,000 hospitalizations and 36,000 deaths in the United States each year. Because of their frequent and direct patient contact, nurses can transmit the virus to patients in their care. Influenza can also be spread from one healthcare worker to another or from patient to healthcare worker.

Influenza is an important and highly transmissible virus in the NICU. In 2000, there was a report of an influenza outbreak in a level 3 NICU during which 19 infants contracted the virus and 1 died. A healthcare worker was the suspected source of the influenza. Only 15% of the unit staff had been immunized against influenza.2

The influenza vaccine remains the best way for nurses to protect themselves, their families, and the patients in their care. Since 1984, the Centers for Disease Control and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices have recommended that all healthcare professionals receive an annual influenza vaccination. Because the vaccine is altered nearly every year to match the circulating strain and because immunity from the vaccine wanes with time, the vaccine must be given each year, ideally in October or November.

Current policies of voluntary influenza immunization of healthcare workers have failed to achieve adequate immunization rates, placing vulnerable patients at risk.3 To address this problem, states are turning to legislation. Seven states now have legislation requiring annual influenza vaccination of healthcare workers or the signing of an informed declination.4

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