Baltimore City health officials want to require hospitals to report how many workers have received flu vaccines. Increasing the number of vaccinated health care workers can reduce flu outbreaks in health facilities, health officials said.
Under a proposed regulation, all private, public and community health clinics, hospitals and physician’s offices would be required to report vaccine rates for employees providing direct patient care.
The report would include how many people were eligible for the vaccine, how many accepted it and how many declined for religious or other reasons. Maryland law requires hospitals and long-term care facilities to offer employees the flu vaccine, but the vaccination rates are not publicly reported.
In an informal survey of five Baltimore City hospitals, health department officials found employee vaccine coverage rates of 35 percent to 71 percent, health officials said.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends at least 80 percent of employees receive the flu vaccine. The department is accepting public comment on the proposed regulation through Sept. 24.
To download the Health Department report, click here.
