Indiana senator introduces mandatory flu shot bill

Legislators in Indiana are trying once again to pass a law allowing for mandatory immunizations for hospital employees. Sen. Frank Mrvan (D-Hammond) introduced a bill that would authorize hospitals to have a written policy in place requiring immunizations as a condition of employment. The hospital could terminate an employee if he or she doesn’t get an immunization, which includes flu, measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis and meningococcal.

A similar bill was passed in the Senate last year but then died in the House after a health study committee failed to make a recommendation on the bill.

Currently, hospitals in Indiana are able to use their own discretion about whether to require a flu vaccination and the consequences for those who do not receive the vaccine. According to the Indianapolis Business Journal blog, The Dose, 87 percent of healthcare workers received the flu vaccination, which is slightly higher than the national average. The CDC recommends that all healthcare workers get an annual flu vaccination.  

Source: The Dose