[Grace]

Reflection question: Immunization programs are highly effective and are a critical component of the OHS program. Do you think immunizations should be mandatory for health care workers? Discuss why or why not with evidence to support your position.

[Deborah-S]

This is such a tricky question. Personally, I do think thing immunizations should be mandatory but I also know a lot of people don’t.
I work in Long-term care and I’m pretty sure the only vaccine right now that is mandatory is the flu shot and if we don’t get that, we must get the Tamiflu, otherwise we are not able to work during outbreaks.
I would rather protect myself anyway and not risk losing hours.
This question is giving me flashbacks of when they were making the Covid vaccine mandatory and that resulted in a lot of people being out of work because of their refusal to get vaccinated.
We lost a lot of good employees when this happened and some didn’t come back after the pandemic.
I understand people believe it’s their body/their choice but I also believe in protecting ourselves and others.

[Shivam]

Hi Deborah,
You made an excellent point about the balance between personal autonomy and our responsibility as health care workers to protect vulnerable patients. I also believe that higher vaccination rates among staff are associated with fewer outbreaks and fewer absences. In settings like hospitals and long-term care homes, even one preventable infection can have serious consequences.

I remember during the pandemic how rapidly policies changed and how much uncertainty there was. Many health care workers were concerned, especially when hearing about individuals with underlying health conditions who experienced complications after receiving the COVID-19 vaccines. That uncertainty made the situation even more challenging for everyone.

Your example about facilities with strong flu-shot uptake experiencing fewer staff sick days really reinforces how immunization can protect not only patients, but also the entire health care team. You explained the issue very clearly.

[Deborah]

Personally, when deciding whether vaccines should be mandatory is complicated because it involves balancing personal choice with the needs of protecting all patients, especially patients who are most vulnerable. However, there is evidence that shows that when more healthcare workers get vaccinated, outbreaks are less likely the happen. For instance, hospitals with most staff who get the flu shot are more likely to have fewer cases of staff missing work due to the flu and fewer patients getting sick.

[Shivam]

In my view, immunizations should be strongly encouraged, and in some cases mandatory for health care workers, especially those working with high-risk populations such as seniors, immunocompromised patients, and infants. Evidence consistently shows that vaccination programs reduce transmission and help protect patients who may not respond well to vaccines themselves.

For example, studies on flu-shots in LTCs show that when staff vaccination rates increase, patient mortality and outbreak frequency decrease significantly. Vaccinated staff are also less likely to miss work due to illness, which helps maintain safe staffing levels and overall continuity of care. This supports the idea that immunization is not just a personal health choice but also a patient safety measure.

In my new RPN role, I see every day how quickly infections can spread in health care environments. Because of this, I believe that certain vaccines such as influenza, COVID-19 (depending on public health guidance), and other evidence-based occupational vaccines are justified as workplace requirements. At the same time, policies should allow exemptions for valid medical reasons and ensure that staff have access to accurate information and convenient vaccination opportunities.

[Kiranjit]

I feel that vaccines should be required for health care professionals since they protect both employees and vulnerable patients from avoidable illnesses. Evidence suggests that high vaccination rates in healthcare environments minimize outbreaks, sick leave, and the spread of infections including influenza and hepatitis B. Mandatory programs also ensure that all units have consistent protection, which is especially important for immunocompromised patients who rely on herd immunity. However, adjustments should be made for legitimate medical or religious reasons, guaranteeing fairness while emphasizing patient and worker safety.

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