With the goal of reducing influenza cases in New Jersey, the Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee on Monday approved legislation (A-1576) sponsored by Assembly Democrats Herb Conaway (D-Burlington) and Thomas Giblin (D-Essex, Passaic) to require certain health care facilities to offer, and for workers to receive, annual flu vaccinations.
Conaway and Giblin released the following statements:
Assemblyman Conaway (chair of the Health committee): “As a physician, I cannot overstate the importance of getting an annual flu shot. It’s even more vital for health care workers who come in contact with ill people each day to get vaccinated. The flu is a very serious disease with high rates of morbidity and mortality. We must protect our most vulnerable populations – including health care professionals and their patients – from catching and spreading the flu.”
Assemblyman Giblin: “Annual flu vaccinations have been recommended for health care providers by the Center for Disease Control since 1981. However, only 78.4 percent of health care workers in the U.S. reported receiving the flu vaccine during the 2017-18 seasons. Requiring health care providers to get the flu shot each year will potentially help reduce cases of the flu in hospitals, care facilities and the greater community.”