Flu seasons are unpredictable and can be severe. Over a period of 30 years, between 1976 and 2006, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) states that estimates of flu-associated deaths in the United States range from a low of about 3,000 to a high of about 49,000 people.
By getting vaccinated, nurses have the power to protect their health, their families' health and the health of their patients and encouraging vaccination of vulnerable patients and populations to protect them from the flu.
ONA Position on Influenza Vaccination
We believe in an influenza vaccination policy that protects you, your patients and your privacy.
ONA believes that all nurses and other health care professionals should be vaccinated against seasonal influenza. However, ONA strongly opposes requiring influenza vaccinations of nurses and other health care workers as a condition of employment.
Nurses across the state have seen a variety of policies implemented by health care facilities in an attempt to stop the spread of influenza.
As Oregon’s largest group of health care professionals, nurses have seen and experienced the best and worst of these policies, including
mandatory masking for those who choose not to get vaccinated. ONA promotes evidence-based, common sense approaches to protect health care workers and patients while protecting the privacy of all employees’ health records.
We believe education and access to vaccinations, when combined with other methods to prevent influenza transmission, are sufficient and
effective in protecting patients and healthcare professionals.
If you have questions about ONA's Position Statement on Seasonal Influenza Vaccination, please contact the ONA Professional Services department here
Seasonal Influenza Information and Resources
Below you will find resources to help you stay up-to-date on the Seasonal Influenza and help protect both yourself and your patients.
ANA Immunize Resources
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Nurses have an important stake in helping to promote immunizations, both by being vaccinated to protect their families, contacts, and patient populations, but also by advocating for vaccination and striving to break down the barriers to a fully-vaccinated American population.
- www.anaimmunize.org - the American Nurses Association's website dedicated to bringing immunity to every community.
- Sign up here for ANA ImmuNews. The electronic newsletter features articles that are selected with nurses in mind, focusing on immunization topics that are most pertinent to their role in this field.
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Resources for Health Care Providers
Federal government resources on seasonal influenza
From Oregon Public Health Department:
From Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
From ONA
Vaccine Information (Administration, Safety & Effectiveness)
Vaccine Safety
Vaccine Effectiveness
Respirator Use
Infection Control
Immunizing Health Care Workers against Influenza: Best Practices
Other
Volunteering
- If you are interested in volunteering as a licensed health care professional in the influenza vaccination effort in the state go to https://serv-or.org/ to join the State Emergency Registry of Volunteers in Oregon (SERV-OR)
