tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Vaccine. 2013 Oct 23. pii: S0264-410X(13)01424-2. doi: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2013.10.046. [Epub ahead of print]
Vaccination policies for healthcare workers in Europe.
Maltezou HC, Poland GA.
Source
Department for Interventions in Health Care Facilities, Hellenic Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Athens, Greece. Electronic address: helen-maltezou@ath.forthnet.gr.
Abstract
Health-care workers (HCWs) are at increased risk for acquisition of vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) and vaccination is justified in order to protect them from occupational exposure and to prevent the spread of VPDs that pose a threat to susceptible patients. Review of European vaccination policies for HCWs revealed significant differences between countries in terms of recommended vaccines, implementation frame (mandatory or recommendation), target HCW groups and health-care settings. Further, the few published studies available identified indicate significant immunity gaps among HCWs against VPDs in Europe. In order to achieve higher vaccination coverage against VPDs stronger recommendations are needed in Europe. The issue of mandatory vaccination should be considered for diseases that can be transmitted to susceptible patients (influenza, measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis B, pertussis, varicella). The acceptance of vaccinations and of mandatory vaccinations by HCWs is a challenge and appears to be VPD-specific.
Copyright ? 2013. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
KEYWORDS:
Europe, Healthcare workers, Mandatory, Policies, Vaccination
PMID:
24161573
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24161573
Vaccination policies for healthcare workers in Europe.
Maltezou HC, Poland GA.
Source
Department for Interventions in Health Care Facilities, Hellenic Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Athens, Greece. Electronic address: helen-maltezou@ath.forthnet.gr.
Abstract
Health-care workers (HCWs) are at increased risk for acquisition of vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) and vaccination is justified in order to protect them from occupational exposure and to prevent the spread of VPDs that pose a threat to susceptible patients. Review of European vaccination policies for HCWs revealed significant differences between countries in terms of recommended vaccines, implementation frame (mandatory or recommendation), target HCW groups and health-care settings. Further, the few published studies available identified indicate significant immunity gaps among HCWs against VPDs in Europe. In order to achieve higher vaccination coverage against VPDs stronger recommendations are needed in Europe. The issue of mandatory vaccination should be considered for diseases that can be transmitted to susceptible patients (influenza, measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis B, pertussis, varicella). The acceptance of vaccinations and of mandatory vaccinations by HCWs is a challenge and appears to be VPD-specific.
Copyright ? 2013. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
KEYWORDS:
Europe, Healthcare workers, Mandatory, Policies, Vaccination
PMID:
24161573
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24161573