Evaluation of Employee Vaccination Policies in Outpatient Oncology Clinics: A Pilot Study.
BACKGROUND
All major hospital facilities in the state of Utah have employee vaccination policies. However, the presence of healthcare worker vaccination policies in outpatient oncology clinics was unknown.


OBJECTIVE
The objectives of this article are to identify oncology outpatient employee vaccination policies in Utah and to identify what consequences, if any, are present for unvaccinated employees.


METHODS
This was a cross-sectional, descriptive study design in which clinic managers from outpatient oncology clinics were asked, via questionnaire, to describe the clinic's employee vaccination policy and the consequences for refusing the policy.


RESULTS
Most vaccination policies applied to employees primarily assigned to work in the direct patient care area. Most commonly, influenza and hepatitis B vaccines were required as part of the vaccination policy. Most managers offered free vaccinations to employees, but most managers also allowed employees to refuse to follow the vaccination policy for medical, religious, or personal reasons.
College of Nursing, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT.
Karlen E
KE
Luthy
Brigham Young University.
Sarah L
SL
Stocksdale
Brigham Young University.
Janelle L B
JL
Macintosh
Brigham Young University.
Lacey M
LM
Eden
College of Nursing, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT.
Renea L
RL
Beckstrand
Thyroid Institute of Utah.
Katie
K
Edmonds
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006291:Health Policy; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000592:standards*; D010045:Outpatients; D010564:Personnel, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014589:Utah; D014611:Vaccination / Q000592:standards*
D007252:Influenza Vaccines
healthcare workers; prevention of infection; vaccination policies; vaccines