Introduction
The introduction and use of modern technology contribute to the presence of better health care programs in the world. In addition, medical scientists and staff have found it easy to deal with health complications in patients’ courtesy of advancements in technology. This essay points at both sides of the discussion on the use of force and patient’s consent regarding vaccination of health care providers against H1N1 Influenza infections.
Voluntary H1N1 Influenza Vaccination
Health care service providers are human beings and deserve the respect and freedom of choice like other people. However, if they cannot make voluntary decisions of getting the vaccines against H1N1 Influenza this amounts to arm twisting them which is against their rights and freedoms. This means that they are always on the frontline in fighting and controlling the spread of diseases (Converse 2010). They will make informed choices after being aware of the significance of the vaccine.
Secondly, the vaccine does not guarantee one hundred percent protection against the disease but it reduces the risks of contracting it. If the authorities rely on vaccination rather than common-sense control measures, they will not fight and control the disease effectively. This means that if it is mandatory for health care workers to receive the vaccine without proper information the practice will never achieve the seriousness and attention from the public (Sullivan 2010). Therefore, the exercise will be useless since they will expose themselves to the disease even after receiving the vaccine. In addition, the practice of mandatory vaccination is discriminatory since it targets health care providers only. The world is at risk of contracting the disease with some areas having high affinity to the disease than others. In addition, everybody is at risk of contracting the disease, and if the practice is mandatory it should consider everybody in the society (O’Neal 2010). However, selecting health care workers as individuals that must take the vaccine discriminates against them. There is no need to vaccinate part of the population knowing everybody is vulnerable to the disease. This stigmatizes health care workers and hinders their effectiveness in service delivery.
Lastly, there is the need to conduct extensive educational programs on the importance of the vaccine. Health care workers play vital roles in educating the public on the benefits of proper health and hygiene. Upon careful review of the disease, they will make wise choices about the practice (Sullivan 2010). Moreover, the practice will be successful if health care workers make their own decisions without using force or manipulation to take the vaccine and it will be easier to implement the program in health care centers.
Mandatory H1N1 Influenza Vaccination
All health care providers must be vaccinated against this disease since they are in constant touch with patients visiting them in hospitals and other health care facilities. This means that they have a higher chance of spreading the disease if they contact them. Since health care providers have close and regular contact with patients from different regions, it is prudent to control and contain the disease (Sullivan 2010). Health care workers must receive this vaccine since they may be carriers of the infection and transmit the disease to their patients. The safest way of keeping the disease at bay is by offering mandatory vaccination to all health workers against H1N1 Influenza. Nurses are reluctant to treat patients that may expose their lives to risks since they are not safe against infections. Health care providers have regular interactions with many people.
In a single day, a health care provider interacts with many people from diverse areas. They are at higher risks of contracting the disease while attending to their patients during diagnosis and treatment of this and other diseases. The best way of ensuring they avoid this state is by administering mandatory vaccines against the disease. Vaccinating all health care workers will offer them protection against contracting the disease. The pandemic calls for urgent attention from all health care providers. When they receive the vaccines they will offer their services to patients rather than become patients themselves and overburden health facilities. They have a right to access quality health care services and healthy medical services including immunization (Babcock 2010). State agencies must guarantee their citizens protection against preventable diseases. Lastly, people do not have an absolute right over their lives. Health care workers have no sole right to decide whether to take or reject the vaccine against H1N1 Influenza. This means that even though they can decide on whether to be vaccinated against the disease or not, they do not have the express right to reject the vaccine for the interest and benefit of the public (patients and their family members).
Conclusion
Vaccination is a noble practice that aims at eradicating the spread of diseases and infections. The decision should not be made mandatory since forceful vaccinations have their side effects. It is for the interest of the individual and the public that everybody receives the vaccine in order to control the spread of killer diseases like H1N1 Influenza.
References
Babcock, H. M. (2010). Mandatory Influenza Vaccination of Health Care Workers: Translating Policy to Practice. National Center for Biotechnology Information. Web.
Converse, A. (2010). Flu Vaccination isn’t a Silver Bullet. American Journal of Nursing:Mandatory Flu Vaccination for Health Care Workers. Web.
O’Neal, D. J. (2010). The Effective Means of Preventing the Disease. American Journal of Nursing: Mandatory Flu Vaccination for Health Care Workers. Web.
Sullivan, P. L. (2010). Influenza Vaccination in Healthcare Workers: Should it Be Mandatory? The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing. Web.