UI Health Care mandating flu shots

University of Iowa Health Care is mandating seasonal flu shots for all faculty, staff, volunteers and many others this year, including vendors and contractors.

Only patients and visitors are exempt from the policy that covers UI Hospitals and Clinics, the Carver College of Medicine and UI physicians.

Spokesman Tom Moore said the shots are part of UI Health Care's preparation for what is expected to be an especially difficult flu season.

A union representing workers at the hospital is opposed to the mandate.

Cathy Glasson, president of Service Employees International Union Local 199, which represents about 2,800 health care workers at the hospital, including 1,500 nurses, said the union has not formally stated its opposition.

Glasson noted, however, that local representatives agree with the national SEIU's opposition to vaccine mandates, including those in New York.

“There are genuine fears,” she said. “We want people to be vaccinated, but the question is the mandation.”

Last year, hospital staff and others were required to acknowledge they had an opportunity to receive flu vaccine, but the shots were not mandated.

This year, all health care faculty, staff, volunteers, residents, fellows and student employees will be required to do one of the following:

• Receive a flu vaccination during the free immunization program beginning in September.

• Provide proof of immunization if vaccinated outside of the UI Health Care immunization program, from a local pharmacy, for example.

• Provide proper documentation to UI Health Care Human Resources of a medical excuse, if allergic to eggs (used in vaccine manufacturing,) for example, or having other medical or religious reasons to be exempted from the immunization program.

Workers who are exempted must wear a surgical mask in the presence of patients or other staff during a flu outbreak.

The seasonal influenza immunization program does not include vaccination for the H1N1 virus.

Moore noted that an H1N1 vaccine is not expected until mid-October and updates will be provided as more is known.

Glasson said the union supports education efforts, which can result in voluntary vaccination rates of health care workers above 90 percent.

Some people, however, have religious or cultural beliefs opposed to vaccinations, she said, and a mandate “invades their rights.”

Glasson said the union is concerned with the hospital's preparations for a flu pandemic in general, and has offered input on having enough masks available and other needs to safeguard the health of patients and employees.

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