[NVIC] CDC: Make Health Workers Get Vaccinated

[Guest guest]

E-NEWS FROM THE NATIONAL VACCINE INFORMATION CENTER

Vienna, Virginia http://www.nvic.org

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

UNITED WAY/COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN

#8122

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

" Protecting the health and informed consent rights of children since 1982. "

============================================================================

==============

BL Fisher Note:

Embarrassed that many health care workers choose not to follow CDC

recommendations to get flu vaccinations every year, the CDC is urging

hospitals to use more draconian measures to force them to get vaccinated.

The most educated of all health care professionals treating the sick, health

care workers have long been reluctant to roll up their sleeves and get

vaccinated. Nurses in Washington state have gone to court - successfully -

to block attempts by hospitals to force them to get vaccinated or be fired.

Bottom line: the right to voluntary, informed consent to vaccination should

apply to all citizens - including health care workers. Everyone should have

the right to weigh the benefits and risks of vaccination for themselves or

their minor children and make an educated choice.

http://today.reuters.com/news/NewsArticle.aspx?type=domesticNews & storyID=uri

:2006-02-09T201604Z_01_N09376061_RTRUKOC_0_US-FLU.xml

REUTERS

US urges hospitals to vaccinate workers for flu

Thu Feb 9, 2006 3:16 PM ET

By Maggie Fox, Health and Science Correspondent

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Hospitals and nursing homes should offer free flu

vaccines to all their workers and make employees sign a form if they refuse

to be immunized, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on

Thursday.

As part of a drive to vaccinate more healthcare workers the CDC also said in

a statement that shots should be made available to employees day and night.

Influenza kills 36,000 people in an average year in the United States and

puts 200,000 into the hospital.

Ensuring health care workers, including doctors, nurses, technicians, clerks

and cafeteria workers, are vaccinated has taken on greater importance with

the spread of H5N1 avian influenza and its potential to create a pandemic.

" When people who work in hospitals and healthcare facilities don't get

vaccinated, they can pose a serious health risk to their patients, " said CDC

Director Dr. Gerberding.

Surveys show that only between 36 percent and 38 percent of health care

workers get an annual flu shot, even though they have a higher-than-average

risk of being infected and can pass the virus on to vulnerable patients.

One recent study found that 23 percent of health care workers had antibodies

to influenza in their blood after a mild flu season but 59 percent of these

could not recall having had flu and 28 percent did not remember having been

ill at all.

When asked, health care workers give the same reasons as most people for not

getting flu shots -- a lack of time, the belief that they will not get flu,

fear of needles, and a belief that the shot carries risks.

The CDC, which does not have enforcement or regulatory powers, has long

recommended that health care employees get the shots but experts now agree

that hospitals will have to be prodded into action.

The American Medical Association, which represents about a third of U.S.

doctors, applauded the recommendations. " The AMA encourages physicians and

nurses to lead by example and get the flu vaccine, " the group said in a

statement.

=============================================

News@... is a free service of the National Vaccine Information

Center and is supported through membership donations. Learn more about

vaccines, diseases and how to protect your informed consent rights

http://www.nvic.org

Become a member and support NVIC's work

https://www.nvic.org/making%20cash%20donations.htm

To sign up for a free e-mail subscription http://www.nvic.org/emaillist.htm