[NVIC] UK Nurses Say No to Flu Vaccine

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BL Fisher Note: It is interesting to note that the UK nurses, like US

nurses, don't want to take the flu vaccine. Being highly educated health

care professionals with access to medical care, they certainly understand

the " benefits " and " risks " of flu vaccination. Voting with their feet, they

just say no and that should give everyone pause to consider what they know

that those lining up at doctor's offices and health care clinics for flu

vaccinations don't know.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/4260138.stm

BBC, UK

Monday, 19 September 2005

Nurses 'not taking flu vaccine'

Many staff did not think they needed the flue jab.

Vulnerable elderly patients could be at risk of catching flu from nurses who

have not been vaccinated against the virus, a report has said.

Research at two Liverpool hospitals found less than 8% of healthcare workers

had annual jabs.

But more than half had taken sick leave due to flu-type symptoms in the

previous three months.

The research, published in the Journal of Clinical Nursing, did not name the

hospitals where staff were surveyed.

The report's authors said increased vaccination of hospital staff would ease

staffing crises during the winter.

Many of the respondents appeared to demonstrate general apathy towards the

flue vaccination

Dr Helen Canning

Of the 144 staff interviewed, 29% said they did not need to be vaccinated

and 18% said they were not aware of the vaccine.

Only 10% knew the vaccine would protect patients against the serious

complications of flu and 11% of staff were concerned about side effects of

the jab.

" Vaccinating healthcare workers against flu can reduce staff sickness and

winter pressures as well as reducing deaths among frail older patients, "

said Dr Helen Canning, who carried out the research at the University of

Liverpool.

" Our study found that the main reason for poor vaccine uptake was a basic

lack of knowledge and understanding of the vaccine, especially regarding

benefits and side-effects.

" Many of the respondents appeared to demonstrate general apathy towards the

flue vaccination. "

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