Elder Law

Nursing Home Workers should be required to get Flu Shots

By Levin & Perconti

While state?s Health Department?s are requiring that health care workers be vaccinated for the flu, they are not requiring the same regulation for employees of nursing homes. One particular state?s law requires that nursing home employees get flu shots but allows workers to refuse the vaccine after being informed of the heath risks. The refusal loophole will put thousands of frail, elderly residents at risk every year. They are more likely to die or be hospitalized from seasonal flu than most other groups. With swine flu sweeping the nation, elderly residents are more likely to contract the flu. While it is more serious in younger people and pregnant women, the elderly are still at risk. All states, including Illinois, should require that nursing home employees receive the swine flu vaccine to avoid nursing home negligence. Also, all visitors should require hand sanitizer before entering an Illinois nursing home. To read more about mandatory swine flu testing, please click the link.

Full post as published by Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Blog on September 04, 2009 (boomark / email).