Seasonal influenza: Not enough health care workers have themselves vaccinatedSeptember 21, 2009Less than one third of healthcare workers have themselves vaccinated against classic influenza. This reluctance is astounding, firstly because vaccination against influenza viruses is considered safe and effective and secondly because it has been proved to prevent nosocomial transmission of disease to patients-provided at least 50% of employees have been vaccinated. In the new issue of Deutsches Ärzteblatt International (Dtsch Arztebl Int 2009; 106(36): 567-72), Sabine Wicker of Johann Wolfgang Goethe University Hospital, Frankfurt and her co-authors reveal why vaccination rates have stayed so low and how they can be improved. The attitudes of healthcare personnel to influenza vaccination were investigated by means of several anonymous questionnaires. Those who opted for vaccination did so principally to protect themselves and their family, friends, and colleagues. Concern for patients was relegated to third place. The most frequent reasons given for refusing vaccination were low estimation of the risk of infection, fear of adverse effects, and scepticism whether the vaccine offered adequate protection. In the influenza season 2008/2009, the vaccination rate at Frankfurt University Hospital was greatly improved by making it mandatory for all unvaccinated employees to wear a protective mask in order to break chains of infection in the hospital. Within 10 days the vaccination coverage rose from 33% to 57.7%. The authors conclude that satisfactory vaccination rates obviously cannot be achieved by means of voluntary, free-of-charge vaccination programs and information campaigns. They recommend, therefore, that hospital authorities consider compulsory vaccination for employees who care for immune-compromised patients. Deutsches Aerzteblatt International |
|||||||||||||||||||||
| Related Vaccination Current Events and Vaccination News Articles Worksite wellness programs may reduce employee absenteeism Emory University Rollins School of Public Health researchers will present Nov. 11 on a range of topics at the American Public Health Association's annual meeting in Philadelphia, including a study that found reduced absenteeism among employees participating in a large-scale worksite wellness program. Poll: Many parents, high-priority adults who tried to get H1N1 vaccine unable to get it A new national poll from Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) researchers found that a majority of adults who tried to get the H1N1 vaccine for themselves or their children have been unable to do so. When should flu trigger a school shutdown? As flu season approaches, parents around the country are starting to face school closures. But how bad should an influenza outbreak be for a school to shut down? Common Pain Relievers May Dilute Power of Flu Shots With flu vaccination season in full swing, research from the University of Rochester Medical Center cautions that use of many common pain killers - Advil, Tylenol, aspirin - at the time of injection may blunt the effect of the shot and have a negative effect on the immune system. Initial Results Show Pregnant Women Mount Strong Immune Response To One Dose of 2009 H1N1 Flu Vaccine Healthy pregnant women mount a robust immune response following just one dose of 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine, according to initial results from an ongoing clinical trial sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) of the National Institutes of Health. Flu vaccine given to women during pregnancy keeps infants out of the hospital Infants born to women who received influenza vaccine during pregnancy were hospitalized at a lower rate than infants born to unvaccinated mothers. Progress made on group B streptococcus vaccine Scientists supported by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, have completed a Phase II clinical study that indicates a vaccine to prevent Group B Streptococcus (GBS) infection is possible. Pandemic flu vaccine campaigns may be undermined by coincidental medical events The effectiveness of pandemic flu vaccination campaigns - like that now underway for H1N1 - could be undermined by the public incorrectly associating coincidental and unrelated health events with the vaccines. Lessons from flu seasons past Pregnant women who catch the flu are at serious risk for flu-related complications, including death, and that risk far outweighs the risk of possible side effects from injectable vaccines containing killed virus, according to an extensive review of published research and data from previous flu seasons. Swine flu vaccine must be free and safe for high uptake Almost half of adults surveyed in Summer 2009 in Hong Kong (45%) say they would take up free swine flu vaccination. More Vaccination Current Events and Vaccination News Articles |
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||