Many hospitals have implemented a mandatory approach to increase vaccination rates among staff, in which employees who chose not to get vaccinated lost their jobs. Geisinger took a slightly different approach, which allowed staff members to opt out of receiving the flu vaccine for ethical or medical reasons. However, those who did opt out were required to wear a facemask for the entire flu season, from Nov. 1-March 31, whenever they were within five or six feet of any person. Further, all vaccinated employees were known by a campaign sticker placed on their identification badge.
After implementing the approach, Geisinger’s flu vaccination rates were 95 percent among clinical employees and 92 percent among all employees by mid-December.
Read the news release about flu vaccination at Geisinger Health System.
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