Doctors oppose disclosure of flu vax status

[Guest guest]

Every child in school, every student of allied healthcare, all of them are required to reveal whether or not they are vaccinated and against what diseases. But doctors are 'special' and don't feel they should have to do this. What are they afraid of? Are they worried that when they tell their patients to get vaccinated, they may have to justify their 'do as I say, not as I do' attitude? Hypocrites! Up to 75% of doctors don't take flu shots and I haven't yet seen a survey of their status when it comes to Hep B, pertussis and other adult vaccinations. But if doctors won't take vaccines but continue to try and enforce vaccination for their parents, there is a big credibility problem in the making.Oh - and one other thing - if this year's flu is supposed to be the worst since 2009, and 2009 was the mildest flu season on record - does that mean the doctors are fear mongering yet again?Doctors oppose disclosure of flu vax status

An overwhelming number of doctors - 73% - believe that doctors should not be required to disclose their flu vaccination status, amid warnings that this year’s influenza season could be the worse since 2009.

Findings from an online Australian Doctor poll reveal that 67%

of respondents believe vaccination is a personal choice for doctors, as

it is for everyone else, and should remain private.

A further 6% say it should not be disclosed because knowing a doctor’s vaccination status could influence a patient’s decision to be immunised or not.

The poll comes on the back of comments made by AMA president Dr Steve Hambleton who told a newspaper that there was an “argument for disclosure” because unvaccinated doctors were putting patients at risk.

Dr Hambleton's comments were made in response to expert warnings that the total number of diagnosed cases in Australia at end-June were double

that seen at the same time last year, which were reported by Australian Doctor .

However, only a handful of 489 respondents agreed patient risk of contracting flu from their doctor was a good reason for making their vaccination status public.

Only 8% said patients had a right to know so that they could choose whether they see an unvaccinated doctor or not.

More doctors (19%) believed that disclosure was important because if doctors encouraged vaccination then patients had a right to know if they

practised what they preached.

Commenting on the issue, Dr Hand, said: If influenza sero-status is so important to be disclosed to the public then what next

- Hep B, C measles, rubella, varicella, pertussis and even the HIV status of doctors is to be on public display!”

“If a doctor admits to a patient that he or she does not participate in

an officially advocated vaccination policy that is as good as saying to

the patient "this is not worthwhile, don't bother". Not disclosing is a

professional cop-out,” added another commentator.

Latest data on flu cases show that up to 13 July there were 13,285 notifications of laboratory confirmed influenza notified to the National

Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System so far this year.

In the two weeks from 30 June to 13 July there were 5,049 notifications.http://www.australiandoctor.com.au/news/latest-news/doctors-oppose-disclosing-flu-vax-status/

Meryl Dorey,SpokespersonThe Australian Vaccination Network, Inc.Investigate before you vaccinateEditor,Living Wisdom MagazineFamily, Health, EnvironmentPO Box 177BANGALOW NSW 2479AUSTRALIAhttp://www.avn.org.auhttp://www.living-wisdom.comPhone: 02 6687 1699 FAX 02 6687 2032skype: ivmmagFreedom is not merely the opportunity to do as one pleases; neither is it merely the opportunity to choose between set alternatives. Freedom is, first of all, the chance to formulate the available choices, to argue over them -- and then, the opportunity to choose. - C. MillsThe authority of any governing institution must stop at its citizen's skin. - Gloria SteinemWe rely on the help and support of our members and subscribers to continue offering our services freely and without prejudice.Please consider helping us by joining the AVN as a member. Go to http://www.avn.org.au to become a member or donate to support our work.We also sell books, videos and DVDs on vaccination and other health issues. Go to http://shop.avn.org.au/ for more details.