UK Nurses Say No to Flu Vaccine

[Guest guest]

It is interesting to note that the UK nurses, like USnurses, don't want to take the flu vaccine. Being highly educated healthcare professionals with access to medical care, they certainly understandthe "benefits" and "risks" of flu vaccination. Voting with their feet, theyjust say no and that should give everyone pause to consider what they knowthat those lining up at doctor's offices and health care clinics for fluvaccinations don't know.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/4260138.stmBBC, UKMonday, 19 September 2005Nurses 'not taking flu vaccine'Many staff did not think they needed the flu jab.Vulnerable elderly patients could be at risk of catching flu from nurses whohave not been vaccinated against the virus, a report has said.Research at two Liverpool hospitals found less than 8% of healthcare workershad annual jabs.But more than half had taken sick leave due to flu-type symptoms in theprevious three months.The research, published in the Journal of Clinical Nursing, did not name thehospitals where staff were surveyed.The report's authors said increased vaccination of hospital staff would easestaffing crises during the winter.Many of the respondents appeared to demonstrate general apathy towards theflue vaccinationDr Helen CanningOf the 144 staff interviewed, 29% said they did not need to be vaccinatedand 18% said they were not aware of the vaccine.Only 10% knew the vaccine would protect patients against the seriouscomplications of flu and 11% of staff were concerned about side effects ofthe jab."Vaccinating healthcare workers against flu can reduce staff sickness andwinter pressures as well as reducing deaths among frail older patients,"said Dr Helen Canning, who carried out the research at the University ofLiverpool."Our study found that the main reason for poor vaccine uptake was a basiclack of knowledge and understanding of the vaccine, especially regardingbenefits and side-effects."Many of the respondents appeared to demonstrate general apathy towards theflu vaccination."