[MCOH-EH] MCOH-EH Digest, Vol 254, Issue 149 - Mandatory MMR Vaccinations?

[Harriman, Kathleen@CDPH]

In California, I believe that most hospitals make evidence of immunity to measles, mumps, rubella and varicella a condition of employment. Since most people were vaccinated as children, most healthcare workers who weren't born before 1957 have received measles, mumps and rubella vaccines, or in the case of varicella - had vaccine or disease. Therefore, even if a healthcare worker is currently anti-vaccine, it's usually not an issue for these vaccines since most healthcare workers had these vaccines as children and don't need them again. For this reason, there seems to be less resistance to immunity requirements for these diseases than for influenza vaccine.  

For California recommendations, see: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/CDPH%20Document%20Library/Immunization/HCWIZRecs.pdf

Kathleen Harriman
California Department of Public Health
kathleen.harriman at cdph.ca.gov

Today's Topics:

   1.  Mandatory MMR Vaccinations? (Lawrence Budnick)
   2. Re:  Mandatory MMR Vaccinations? (Swift, Melanie D., M.D.)
   3. Re:  [External]  Mandatory MMR Vaccinations? (Behrman, Amy)
   4. Re:  Mandatory MMR Vaccinations? (Lanzi, Maria)
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Message: 1
Date: Wed, 15 May 2019 20:03:17 +0000
From: Lawrence Budnick <budnicla at njms.rutgers.edu>
To: MCOH/EH <mcoh-eh at mylist.net>
Subject: [MCOH-EH] Mandatory MMR Vaccinations?

A Chief Medical Officer at a hospital in NJ wants to require mandatory MMR vaccinations for any HCP who is measles susceptible. Does anyone currently have such a policy?

I suspect this is on the heels of the mandatory influenza vaccinations.

Thank you.

Lawrence D. Budnick, MD, MPH
Professor of Medicine
Director, Occupational Medicine Service
Rutgers University - New Jersey Medical School
65 Bergen Street, Suite GA-167, Newark, NJ 07107 tel 973.972.2900 fax 973.972.2904 lawrence.budnick at rutgers.edu<mailto:lawrence.budnick at rutgers.edu>


Message: 2
Date: Wed, 15 May 2019 20:32:51 +0000
From: "Swift, Melanie D., M.D." <Swift.Melanie at mayo.edu>
To: MCOH/EH <mcoh-eh at mylist.net>
Subject: Re: [MCOH-EH] Mandatory MMR Vaccinations?

Mayo does, Vandy did when I was there. I think outside New Jersey, which as you have explained to me operates in its own universe, this is not an unusual requirement. Most medical and nursing schools have MMR requirements, as do schools. Most states implemented college requirements for a 2nd MMR in the 1980s. (Granted, maybe not The Garden State!)

Of course you first accept evidence of prior immunization or immunity, and you have to have a process for temporary and permanent exemptions. To be ADA compliant you need to do a risk assessment for people who can't take the vaccine due to a valid exemption (you have allow for medical and probably sincere religious belief exemptions at a minimum).

I have a theory that the mandatory flu process and associated angst stirred up excitement about MMR and VZ vaccine requirements that were formerly taken in stride. I can count on one hand the MMR "sincerely held belief" exemption requests I saw prior to mandatory flu vaccine. Now it comes up a lot. "Mandatory fluvax - the gift that keeps on giving"

Melanie

Message: 3
Date: Wed, 15 May 2019 21:32:29 +0000
From: "Behrman, Amy" <behrman at pennmedicine.upenn.edu>
To: MCOH/EH <mcoh-eh at mylist.net>
Subject: Re: [MCOH-EH] [External]  Mandatory MMR Vaccinations?

Penn does, with medical exemptions as appropriate of course.


Amy J Behrman, MD, FACOEM, FACP

Medical Director, Occupational Medicine

Perelman School of Medicine

University of Pennsylvania

3400 Spruce Street

Philadelphia, PA  19104

Message: 4
Date: Thu, 16 May 2019 11:25:45 +0000
From: "Lanzi, Maria" <Maria.Lanzi at va.gov>
To: MCOH/EH <mcoh-eh at mylist.net>
Subject: Re: [MCOH-EH] Mandatory MMR Vaccinations?

The VA does not, but in my humble opinion it should.  For all the reasons we are well aware of and with all of the comments from Dr. Swift and Behrman agreed.

Maria
Maria C. Lanzi, MS, MPH, ANP-BC, COHN-S, CTH Nurse Practitioner/Program Coordinator Employee Occupational Health Corporal Michael J Crescenz Veterans Affairs Medical Center 3900Woodland Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19104
Work:  215 823 5800 x 2592
Fax:  215 823 5968