An employee refuses the annual inactivated influenza vaccine claiming it will give them the flu. What is an appropriate response by the infection preventionist?

• A. Tell the employee the vaccine does not cause influenza.
• B. Explain that the vaccine is optional and cannot protect others.
• C. Suggest the employee avoid all vaccines in the future.
• D. State that influenza vaccines are only for patients.

Answer: (A)

Addressing vaccine myths with clear, factual information protects both staff and patients. The influenza vaccine being inactivated means it contains killed virus or a protein component and cannot cause influenza. Any reactions people notice after vaccination, such as soreness or a mild fever, are immune responses and are not influenza illness produced by the vaccine itself. Explaining this helps the employee understand why vaccination is safe and why it’s beneficial—not only for the individual but for the people they work with, since higher staff vaccination rates reduce transmission to vulnerable patients.

Infection preventionists should respond calmly and with evidence, offering to share safety data or reputable resources. This approach supports informed decision-making and maintains trust.

Statements that frame vaccination as optional or as protecting only others, or that vaccines are only for patients, don’t align with infection prevention goals and can undermine safety.