The legislation would prohibit employers — including hospitals — from firing, demoting or otherwise punishing an employee for choosing not to get a vaccination. The Ohio Legislature has reviewed similar bills before, but this is the first to cover all vaccinations, not just flu shots.
The bill does not prevent employers from enacting mandatory vaccination policies, as many health systems have done during flu season. Instead, it protects employees’ rights to refuse the vaccine under the mandate, noted Rep. Ron Hood, R-Ashville.
Many medical organizations and professionals have opposed the bill, including the Ohio Hospital Association. The bill’s opponents say a vaccinated healthcare workforce helps protect vulnerable patient populations from illness — the benefits of which far outweigh the small risks vaccines pose to employees.
More articles on clinical leadership and infection control:
Viewpoint: The US must eliminate non-medical vaccine exemptions
Senators introduce bill to address high maternal and infant mortality in US: 4 things to know
CDC panel recommends HPV vaccine for some adults
Becker’s 3rd Annual Fall Chief Pharmacy Officer Summit is the top tier event that the people leading the future of pharmacy convene. This 3-day event is built specifically for Chief Pharmacy Officers and senior pharmacy leaders. The sessions examine the workforce, financial and clinical priorities shaping pharmacy today. Becker’s is where candid discussions flourish and new ideas thrive. Becker's 3rd Annual Fall Chief Pharmacy Officer Summit
