The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations has announced the approval of an infection control standard that requires accredited organizations to offer influenza vaccinations to staff, which includes volunteers and licensed independent practitioners with close patient contact. The standard will become an accreditation requirement beginning Jan. 1, 2007, for the hospital, critical access hospital, and long-term care accreditation programs.
The Joint Commission developed the standard in response to recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Although the CDC has urged annual influenza vaccination for healthcare workers since 1981, fewer than 40% of healthcare workers are immunized each year. The new standard requires organizations to: establish an annual influenza vaccination program that includes at least staff and licensed independent practitioners; provide influenza vaccinations on-site; educate staff and licensed independent practitioners about flu vaccination, non-vaccine control measures (such as the use of appropriate precautions), and diagnosis, transmission, and potential impact of influenza; annually evaluate vaccination rates and reasons for nonparticipation in the organization’s immunization program; and take measures to increase participation.
