The Colorado Department of Health has made further revisions to the proposed rule regarding Influenza vaccinations for health care workers. The final draft of this proposed regulation is available online at http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/hf/proposedregs.htm .
The following information was reviewed in the ALR Advisory committee 1/26/12 by Laurie Schoder, Policy Analyst:
Requirements for ALRs and Other Licensed Healthcare Entities (See §§10.10-10.12)
► All other licensed healthcare entities, such as assisted living residences and home care agencies, must perform an assessment of its workforce and residents/patients and develop a policy regarding the vaccination of its employees based upon that assessment.
► These entities must also make sure their employees are offered an opportunity to receive annual influenza immunization if the employee desires it, but the entity is not required to provide it.
► These entities must maintain records of each employee's annual influenza immunization, declination, or exemption from immunization.
► These entities must provide their employees with information regarding influenza immunization, availability of influenza immunization, and the importance of adhering to standard precautions.
► These entities must report their employee vaccination rate to the Department on an annual basis.
Exemption from Rule is Available if Vaccination Targets are Met (see §10.6)
► If any licensed healthcare entity can, using its own methods, guarantee that it has met the targeted vaccination percentages listed below in the given year, then that licensee shall be exempt from the requirements set forth in the rule for the following year as long as it continues to use the same or more stringent methods. The targets required for this exemption are as follows:
- 60 percent of all healthcare workers employees vaccinated by December 31, 2012 .
- 75 percent of all healthcare workers employees vaccinated by December 31, 2013 .
- 90 percent of all healthcare workers employees vaccinated by December 31, 2014 and every year thereafter.
► Exemption status for an entity shall be determined by the Department on an annual basis based on the entity's prior year's influenza vaccination rate, as described above.
► An entity that has been granted exemption from the rule for a given year is still required to submit influenza vaccination rates to the Department, according to the reporting requirements described below.
The public hearing on this rule has been rescheduled for February 15, 2012. The exact time of the hearing has not yet been determined, but the agenda for the meeting will be available at http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/op/bh/index.html approximately 10 days before the hearing. All Board of Health hearings are open to the public and individuals may participate in the rule-making process by providing written comments to the Board ten days before the hearing or by making oral comments during the hearing.
PLEASE NOTE: CEU WILL MAKE A SAMPLE POLICY & PROCEDURE AVAILABLE TO ALL ASSISTED LIVING RESIDENCES THAT HAVE A CURRENT CONTACT WITH CEU, AS SOON AS THE FINAL RULE IS ADOPTED.
