An infectious disease expert has called for flu vaccinations to be made compulsory for all aged care workers in order to reduce the risk of illnesses and fatalities toward the elderly.
Robert Booy of Sydney University said vaccinating against influenza is the number one preventable cause of hospital admissions and deaths in Australia.
A spokeswoman for NSW Health has confirmed there has been 151 deaths in age care facilities associated to influenza outbreaks since 2014.
Professor Booy said while aged care residents have a high uptake of vaccinations at more than 90 per cent, this is only met with about 50 per cent of vaccinated staff members.
And he said because workers are mobile, it was them who spread the virus, which could lead to an outbreak where there are at least three cases over a few days.
“It can affect over half the people and several people can die,” Professor Booy said.
“In NSW last year and the year before, about 100 nursing homes had an outbreak.”
However, he said it is ultimately a personal and corporate responsibility.
Vaccinating against the flu is the top perventable cause of hospital admissions and death in Australia according an influenza expert. Source: AAP
The NSW Nurses and Midwifes Association agreed but opposed the idea of making flu shots a mandatory requirement without first considering other options.
The association’s acting general secretary Judith Kiejda said it is unfair to force the onus on employees.
Instead, employers should encourage and pay for the vaccinations, with the value of providing residents with good care being an incentive to do so.
"I don't think you can ask - A: for these people to be vaccinated; and - B: ask low paid workers to pay for it themselves," Ms Kiejda said.
She said a workforce saturated with casual employees also placed pressure on people to come to work, even if they may be sick.
But reinforcing personal hygiene and educating the public better so they practice what they know, is also needed.
“I just don’t think you can have a blanket mandatory ‘you will have a flu injection or you can’t work here’ – I just don’t think that’s the way to go before we’ve done all the other things.”
