7 Essential Vaccinations for Healthcare Workers

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Vaccination for Healthcare Workers

Vaccination of healthcare personnel—from doctors and nurses to admissions clerks and ambulance drivers—protects from potentially dangerous diseases like flu and COVID-19, and protects patients and the community at large as well.

1. COVID-19

Following the pandemic, the ACIP recommends that healthcare workers receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Although mortality rates tied to COVID-19 have declined since the beginning of the pandemic, in 2023, 76,446 reported deaths were associated with the virus. People with the virus can remain contagious for up to 10 days after the first symptoms start, meaning that healthcare workers who are caring for these patients are at high risk for contracting the virus themselves.

Recommendations

The CDC recommends everyone over the age of six months receive the COVID-19 vaccine, especially those who are considered high risk due to age or underlying medical conditions. Healthcare workers, as people who are likely to come into frequent contact with infected patients, are strongly encouraged to stay up to date on vaccinations for the virus. There are currently two main types of COVID-19 vaccines available, including mRNA vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) and protein subunit vaccines (Novavax).

2. Influenza Vaccine

An estimated 12,000 to 61,000 people die from influenza each year in the United States, making it one of the deadliest vaccine-preventable diseases in the country. Healthcare workers are exposed to this infection from patients who have the flu. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), between 140,000 to 810,000 people are hospitalized each year for influenza, depending on the severity of the variant circulating that year.

Call to Action

According to the CDC, around 80% of healthcare workers in the United States received the flu vaccine during the 2021-2022 flu season—meaning that a good number were unprotected from the virus. Hospitals tend to have higher vaccination rates than long-term care facilities like nursing homes, and employees are much more likely to receive the flu vaccine if it is mandated by the state or their employer.

Conclusion

In conclusion, vaccination is crucial for healthcare workers to protect themselves, their patients, and the community from infectious diseases like COVID-19 and flu. It is essential to stay up to date on vaccinations, especially for high-risk individuals and those who come into frequent contact with infected patients.

FAQs

1. Why are vaccinations important for healthcare workers?

Vaccinations protect healthcare workers from contracting and spreading infectious diseases, which helps to prevent hospital-acquired infections and maintain the health and safety of patients and the community.

1. How often should healthcare workers receive the COVID-19 vaccine?

The CDC recommends everyone over the age of six months receive the COVID-19 vaccine, especially those who are considered high risk due to age or underlying medical conditions. Healthcare workers should stay up to date on vaccinations for the virus.

1. What types of COVID-19 vaccines are available?

There are currently two main types of COVID-19 vaccines available, including mRNA vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) and protein subunit vaccines (Novavax).