The legislation was introduced by the Senate Healthcare Committee and would also include a surveillance mechanism so regulators can better understand and boost vaccination rates among healthcare employees. Currently, state law only requires that healthcare facilities offer vaccination and not use vaccination as a condition of employment.
State officials believe access to vaccination in addition to staff education can increase healthcare personnel vaccination rates and safety among workers and patients. The Oregon Nurses Association and the Oregon Health Care Association have both expressed their support of the bill. However, the state hospital association doesn’t entirely agree.
An official with the hospital association said although the group supports increased vaccination rates among healthcare personnel, “allowing individual healthcare facilities to decide what works best for them makes more sense,” according to the report.
Related Articles on Hospital Vaccinations:
Harrington HealthCare System Enacts Vaccination, Mask Policy
Study: Immunization Initiative Did Not Increase Overall Influenza Vaccination Rates
Advisory Committee Releases Recommendations on Healthcare Employee Vaccinations
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