Immunizations

ANA Position Statement

Effective Date: September 12, 2025
Status: Revised Position Statement
Adopted By: ANA Board of Directors

Purpose 

Historically, the American Nurses Association (ANA) has strongly supported immunizations across the lifespan to protect the public from highly communicable and deadly diseases such as measles, mumps, diphtheria, pertussis, COVID-19, and influenza (ANA, 2023; ANA, 2019; ANA, 2015; ANA, 2006), and has supported mandatory vaccination policies for registered nurses and healthcare personnel (HCP) under certain circumstances. Considering several recent and significant measles outbreaks in the United States, the increase in immunization mis-and dis-information, fundamental governmental health and human services shifts, as well as the global pandemic of COVID-19, ANA has revised its position statement for clarity and intent and examined present best practices and recommendations from the broader healthcare community.

STATEMENT OF ANA POSITION

Effective protection of the public mandates that all individuals receive immunizations against vaccine-preventable diseases according to the best and most current evidence. All healthcare personnel (HCP), including registered nurses (RNs), should be vaccinated according to current recommendations for immunization of HCP based on age and evidence that is validated, and informed by current peer-reviewed research. ANA also believes that it is imperative for everyone to receive immunizations for vaccine-preventable diseases as vaccines are critical to infectious disease prevention and control. Moreover, nurses have a professional and ethical obligation to model healthcare standards.

ANA does not support any exemptions, including for philosophical or religious reasons, from immunization other than for medical contraindications. All requests for medical exemption from vaccination should be accompanied by documentation from the appropriate authority to support the request and reauthorized on an annual basis. Individuals exempted from vaccination may be required to adopt measures or practices in the workplace to reduce the chance of disease transmission. Employers should offer reasonable accommodation in such circumstances.

As novel diseases emerge, ANA supports ongoing research and development of safe, easily accessed vaccinations for these public health threats. Vaccinations must be available and accessible to all to ensure public health and safety.

ANA POSITION STATEMENT ON IMMUNIZATIONS