Why should healthcare workers have a yearly influenza vaccination?

The Immunisation Coalition, with an educational grant from Sanofi Pasteur, has produced a video about the importance of healthcare workers receiving an annual influenza vaccination. 

Why should healthcare workers have a yearly influenza vaccination? features Dr John Gerrard (Director of Infectious DIseases, Gold Coast University Hospital), Dr Paul Van Buynder (Immunisation Coalition / ISG Director and Public Health Staff Specialist at Gold Coast Public Health Unit), and Dr Mark Simmerman (Regional expert Influenza and Pneumococcal, Sanofi Pasteur). You can view the video here.

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Can You Afford the Flu? 

Can You Afford the Flu? explains why it is so important for healthcare workers to be vaccinated against influenza. Primum non nocere (first, do no harm) is a concept taught to health professionals in their early training, and is very relevant to healthcare workers in relation to influenza.

Research has shown that increasing the rate of vaccination of nursing staff in nursing homes from 10% to 50%, a reduction of 50% in deaths can be achieved (from all causes) during the flu season. (Heyward et al, BMJ Dec 2006)

Can You Afford the Flu? features a number of healthcare specialists including Professor Robert Booy (Head of Research, National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance of Vaccine Preventable Diseases), Dr Dominic Dwyer (virologist), and Dr Alan Hampson (Chair of the ISG). 

The video can be viewed here

Influenza vaccination among healthcare workers

 The ISG has also developed a discussion paper on Vaccination of Healthcare Workers.

Click on the image for more information, or to download the pdf click here.

Healthcare workers are often exposed to the flu virus during the course of their work, contributing to substantial rates of infection during the influenza season. In fact, it has been estimated that up to 25% of healthcare workers can contract influenza during any given season.