Seasonal influenza vaccination should be required for all health care workers, according to updated seasonal and pandemic influenza principles from the Infectious Diseases Society of America.
Incorporating lessons learned during the 2009-2010 H1N1 influenza pandemic and warning against complacency about the inevitability of another pandemic, the revised IDSA principles debuted Sept. 14 in a document titled "Pandemic and Seasonal Influenza Principles for United States Action."
The society revamped its flu guidance to help U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) officials establish priorities as they implement the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA), which is being reauthorized by Congress.
IDSA last released such flu preparation and response principles in January 2007, before the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic. The emergence of the novel influenza H1N1 strain showed that, "in addition to severe illness and death, the spread of new influenza strains can cause significant societal and economic disruption and anxiety, and, in extreme cases, may threaten economic and national security."
The document outlines 10 principles, including strengthening influenza vaccination efforts and developing strategies to communicate with the public and medical professionals during a pandemic. It also advocates improved influenza surveillance and coordination between HHS and other federal and global partners, and well as boosting the accuracy and availability of diagnostic tools.
In addition, IDSA calls for enhanced availability of current antiviral drugs, as well as the development of new, simple-to-use antiviral drugs. The document highlights the need for antibacterial drugs to treat secondary infections.
IDSA also addresses the need to protect health care workers during seasonal and pandemic influenza outbreaks, and it recommends that annual seasonal influenza vaccination be required for all health care workers "through rules, regulations, policies, or laws." During a pandemic, health care workers directly taking care of patients should be in the group with highest vaccination priority. And long-term prophylaxis with antivirals can be considered "when medically appropriate and as supplies permit."
There were almost 61 million influenza cases reported in the United States during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, including 274,000 hospitalizations and 12,500 deaths, according to IDSA. Younger people and pregnant women were disproportionately affected, with almost 90% of deaths occurring in people under age 65.
A copy of the 2012 IDSA principles is available by clicking here.