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Implementing a mandatory flu shot policy: What every employer should know

Currently healthcare workers are not required by law to get a flu shot. But a number of states require hospitals to report their flu vaccination rates and a federal reporting requirement for flu shot rates at acute care hospitals went into effect January 1, 2013.

Offering, as opposed to mandating, staff flu shots avoids legal and operational complications, hospitals need to balance employee rights with what is in the best interests of their patients. Spreading the flu virus in a hospital presents unique patient care risks. Patients with long-term and chronic medical conditions risk serious complications from the flu.

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