Mandatory Influenza Vaccination or Masking of Health Care Workers September 10, 2015 News, SF Dept of Public Health health officer order, influenza, vaccination 0 A Health Officer Order has been issued mandating that all hospitals, skilled nursing, and other long term care facilities in the City and County of San Francisco require their health care workers (HCWs) to receive an annual influenza vaccination or, if they decline, to wear a mask in patient care areas during the influenza season. HCWs are defined as persons, paid and unpaid, working in health care settings who have direct patient contact or who work in patient care areas. SFDPH is also recommending implementation of the same policy for other clinical facilities and ambulatory care centers. Influenza infection affects 5-20% of the U.S. population every year, leading to an estimated 3.1 million days of hospitalization and 31.4 million outpatient visits. HCWs are both at risk for influenza and can transmit the virus to their patients and coworkers. California State law requires that general acute care hospitals and certain employers (including skilled nursing and other long term care facilities) offer influenza vaccination to employees. If hospital employees decline vaccination, they are required to sign a declination statement in lieu of vaccination. This order is ongoing and applies to each influenza season unless the order is rescinded. The influenza season is defined as December 15 to March 31 of the following year. In any given year, if influenza surveillance data demonstrate unusually early and/or late peaks, the health officer may extend the period during which the masking program shall apply for that year. Click here to view the Health Officer Order issued on August 30, 2015. Comments are closed.
