Influenza Vaccination Requirements

Influenza Vaccination Requirements

There has been legislation passed in the last couple years regarding influenza vaccination requirements.  Homes should be implementing these requirements as applicable.

198.053.  Assisted living facilities, notification of posting of latest Vaccine Informational Sheet. — No later than October first of each year, in accordance with the latest recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, each assisted living facility, as such term is defined in section 198.006, shall notify residents and staff where in the facility that the latest edition of the Vaccine Informational Sheet published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been posted. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require any assisted living facility to provide or pay for any vaccination against influenza, allow the department of health to promulgate any rules to implement this section, or cite any facility for acting in good faith to post the Vaccine Informational Sheet.

198.054.  Influenza vaccination for employees, facilities to assist in obtaining. — Each year between October first and March first, all long-term care facilities licensed under this chapter shall assist their health care workers, volunteers, and other employees who have direct contact with residents in obtaining the vaccination for the influenza virus by either offering the vaccination in the facility or providing information as to how they may independently obtain the vaccination, unless contraindicated, in accordance with the latest recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and subject to availability of the vaccine. Facilities are encouraged to document that each health care worker, volunteer, and employee has been offered assistance in receiving a vaccination against the influenza virus and has either accepted or declined.