Op-ed on health care worker flu vaccination

Our colleagues Art Caplan and David Curry wrote an editorial in Tuesday's San Jose Mercury News on the disturbingly low influenza vaccination rates among physicians and other health care workers. Here's an excerpt from the piece, declaratively titled "Make sure your health care workers got flu shot":

"The roughly 40 percent rate of flu vaccination for health care workers means that two in three of the people caring for her are not vaccinated. Do you have the right to ask that health care workers who interact with your parent get the flu vaccine? Why not? You should ask those providing health care: 'Did you get your flu shot this season?' And don't forget the person who brings the food tray, changes the bedding or installs the cable TV. Asking may be embarrassing, but it will remind health care workers to do the right thing.

It is time to move public policy in the direction of mandatory flu vaccines for all appropriate health care employees. Choice is a key value for us all, but spreading infection among the sick is too high a price to pay for that choice. We should not have to wonder whether the person taking care of us, our newborn or our elderly parent has gotten a flu shot."