The study, published in the Journal of the National Medical Association, examines the relationship between state laws regulating flu vaccines for health care workers and the state-level immunization rates among health care workers between 2001-2011. Laws mandating flu vaccines for health care workers increase their vaccination rates, according to a new study.
From 2000 to 2005, only two states, Maine and New Hampshire, had flu vaccine requirement laws for health care workers. During that period, the average flu vaccination rate for health care workers was 22.5%. In 2006-2011, when 19 other states passed their laws, the average vaccination rate for health care workers increased to 50.9%. While flu vaccination rates among health care workers have been increasing gradually over the past few years (up to 66.9% in 2012-2013), rates are still lower than what is recommended by Healthy People 2020 (90%).