Influenza is now widespread in most parts of the U.S. Each year influenza causes a predictable epidemic with 9 to 49 million Americans becoming ill, although the severity of influenza in a given year is not predictable. In the U.S. in “mild” years, influenza is associated with over 200,000 hospitalizations and 12,000 deaths while in years with more virulent strains, flu may cause more than 75,000 deaths per year, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Nonetheless, we have a ho-hum opinion of this killer disease because most of us manage to avoid the flu or have a mild, if annoying, experience. Perhaps that is why doctors and public health officials continue to have a hard time convincing us to get vaccinated or to vaccinate our kids.
Many people erroneously believe the flu vaccine will make them ill, or perhaps even give them the flu also though this is not true. Influenza vaccines are very safe and protect you. More importantly, they protect those around you. Flu is very contagious and can even be spread by those who have mild disease or even no symptoms. It can be spread in a day or two before you get sick with the flu. Influenza can attack anyone but is more likely to cause harm or death to babies, small children, pregnant women, those over 65 years old, and those with underlying immune dysfunction or chronic diseases, such as pulmonary disease, cardiac disease, or diabetes. In deciding whether or not to get the vaccine, you are also deciding whether to help protect babies, old people, sick people, and others in your life or vicinity.
Doctors and healthcare facilities should be very determined to help their patients and residents understand the importance and safety of the annual influenza vaccine. “Offering” is not adequate when the stakes are so high. Healthcare facilities have a responsibility to protect their patients by having staff with a very high rate of vaccination. In recent years the vaccination rates in hospitals are over 90% compared to nursing homes, where the rate falls to about 75%. Nursing homes almost exclusively care for the elderly or those rehabilitating after surgery, populations highly vulnerable to influenza. We hope that nursing homes will get on the bandwagon and require the vaccine for their workers. We should expect this as much as any other safety element and use staff vaccination rate as an indicator of quality.
Many people erroneously believe the flu vaccine will make them ill, or perhaps even give them the flu also though this is not true. Influenza vaccines are very safe and protect you. More importantly, they protect those around you. Flu is very contagious and can even be spread by those who have mild disease or even no symptoms. It can be spread in a day or two before you get sick with the flu. Influenza can attack anyone but is more likely to cause harm or death to babies, small children, pregnant women, those over 65 years old, and those with underlying immune dysfunction or chronic diseases, such as pulmonary disease, cardiac disease, or diabetes. In deciding whether or not to get the vaccine, you are also deciding whether to help protect babies, old people, sick people, and others in your life or vicinity.
Doctors and healthcare facilities should be very determined to help their patients and residents understand the importance and safety of the annual influenza vaccine. “Offering” is not adequate when the stakes are so high. Healthcare facilities have a responsibility to protect their patients by having staff with a very high rate of vaccination. In recent years the vaccination rates in hospitals are over 90% compared to nursing homes, where the rate falls to about 75%. Nursing homes almost exclusively care for the elderly or those rehabilitating after surgery, populations highly vulnerable to influenza. We hope that nursing homes will get on the bandwagon and require the vaccine for their workers. We should expect this as much as any other safety element and use staff vaccination rate as an indicator of quality.
CDC. Don't Get, Don't Spread Seasonal Flu.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPgP88Lct0Q&feature=youtu.be
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPgP88Lct0Q&feature=youtu.be
