New back-to-school worry: Unvaccinated classmates

[wtbcrna]

"A growing number of children aren't getting required vaccinations for non-medical reasons. What will this new reality bring this school year?

As parents send their children back to school, some are grappling with a new worry: whether their children's classmates have received all their vaccinations.

An outbreak of measles in Texas this week shows why their concern is not without reason. Twenty-one people linked to a megachurch and its congregation have contracted the highly contagious disease, and the case has put a spotlight on falling vaccination rates in the U.S.

Measles was eradicated in the U.S. as of 2000, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but outbreaks like the one in Texas are increasing, as is the percentage of parents choosing not to immunize their children, which has seen an uptick in recent years. Usually, the CDC expects to see 60 cases of measles per year, but there have been 135 cases of measles so far in 2013, and in 2011, more than 220 people were diagnosed with the disease.

This latest outbreak follows a rash of recent measles cases among New York's Orthodox Jewish population and an outbreak in San Diego in 2008."

http://news.msn.com/science-technology/new-back-to-school-worry-unvaccinated-classmates

[wtbcrna, MSN, DNP, CRNA]

I know first hand vaccines aren't 100% effective. My son had both doses of Varicella and still got chicken pox.

I just wanted to see what response was for to the question because my chiropractor husband refuses to let me vaccinate our daughter (my son was vaccinated, he is from a previous marriage) from 'evidence' he learned in school. I haven't been able to budge him on this topic.

And if the measles were to be at the school somehow anyway, and 100% were vaccinated some still would end up with measles. This will be my husbands argument.

Vaccines: Vac-Gen/Some Misconceptions. Yes but depending on the vaccine 85-95% would be protected and if everyone was vaccinated there would little chance of the disease spreading due to herd immunity.

There is no scientific evidence learned in school that justifies not being vaccinated. The problem with a lot of schools is they do not teach how to properly review scientific literature. Most of what anti-vaccine groups pass off as scientific literature is nothing more than biased opinion pieces.

[FLDoula]

I'm just playing devils advocate here....Why are the parents of vaccinated kids worried about the unvaccinated kids? If the "other children" are vaccinated, aren't they protected?? So according to the way the science says vaccinations work why the need to homeschool unvaccinated kids? Vaccinated kids are supposed to be safe from whatever they are vaccinated with.

3 of my 4 kids are fully vaccinated. I'm not concerned about them. However.... My youngest son (aged 23 now) had his first vaccines at 2 months no problem. The second set at 4 months he had a reaction to the Pertussis vaccine. Screamed like a wounded animal for almost 24 hours. Swelling from hip to foot. Spent 2 days in the hospital. No more pertussis for him. THAT'S why I was concerned about children not getting vaccines for other than medical reasons. I'm going to presume that homeschooled kids still go out with their parents in public to wherever others are present? And therefore are able to acquire or transfer whatever illness.. Even though the vaccine has changed in that time 2 doctors refused to vaccinate him as an adult for Pertussis given his first reaction (he's an EMT and he has children now)

A sad story..... my grandmother had 5 children during the depression. 4 survived. All 5 had Pertussis at the same time. Sadly her 6 month old didn't make it. I'll never forget the look/tears in her eyes when she told me the story and the horror of watching her children so ill and her youngest died in her arms. Had they had the vaccine she surely would have made sure her children had it. I did my peds clinical during a time a little one had pertussis... hearing that child cough and gasp was horrifying.

I've made sure my 3 grandchildren are fully vaccinated. If their mom/dad were too busy working to take them to their pediatrician... I got permission to do it myself... a simple phone call to mom/dad by the nurse obtained permission.

[roxalot]

Vaccines: Vac-Gen/Some Misconceptions.

There is no scientific evidence learned in school that justifies not being vaccinated. The problem with a lot of schools is they do not teach how to properly review scientific literature. Most of what anti-vaccine groups pass off as scientific literature is nothing more than biased opinion pieces.

My husbands chiropractic college teaches against vaccination. They had an entire course on it one quarter. I wasn't there, nor have I ever attended chiropractic school so I don't know what was taught. He holds a doctorate degree (and he had to take USMLE step 1 and 2 so I know he knows way more than I do) and I don't so I feel easily defeated when discussing this with him. I'll check out your link, but research he has from the CDC shows that polio was declining before the vaccine was available.

[wtbcrna, MSN, DNP, CRNA]

3 of my 4 kids are fully vaccinated. I'm not concerned about them. However.... My youngest son (aged 23 now) had his first vaccines at 2 months no problem. The second set at 4 months he had a reaction to the Pertussis vaccine. Screamed like a wounded animal for almost 24 hours. Swelling from hip to foot. Spent 2 days in the hospital. No more pertussis for him. THAT'S why I was concerned about children not getting vaccines for other than medical reasons. I'm going to presume that homeschooled kids still go out with their parents in public to wherever others are present? And therefore are able to acquire or transfer whatever illness.. Even though the vaccine has changed in that time 2 doctors refused to vaccinate him as an adult for Pertussis given his first reaction (he's an EMT and he has children now)

A sad story..... my grandmother had 5 children during the depression. 4 survived. All 5 had Pertussis at the same time. Sadly her 6 month old didn't make it. I'll never forget the look/tears in her eyes when she told me the story and the horror of watching her children so ill and her youngest died in her arms. Had they had the vaccine she surely would have made sure her children had it. I did my peds clinical during a time a little one had pertussis... hearing that child cough and gasp was horrifying.

I've made sure my 3 grandchildren are fully vaccinated. If their mom/dad were too busy working to take them to their pediatrician... I got permission to do it myself... a simple phone call to mom/dad by the nurse obtained permission.

Our generation has never had to deal with a lack of medical care or a large unvaccinated population. This has lead to vaccine complacency in the United States.

[wtbcrna, MSN, DNP, CRNA]

My husbands chiropractic college teaches against vaccination. They had an entire course on it one quarter. I wasn't there, nor have I ever attended chiropractic school so I don't know what was taught. He holds a doctorate degree (and he had to take USMLE step 1 and 2 so I know he knows way more than I do) and I don't so I feel easily defeated when discussing this with him. I'll check out your link, but research he has from the CDC shows that polio was declining before the vaccine was available.

I also have my doctorate and spent most of the last 2+ years of my post masters program learning how to critically evaluate scientific literature and utilize EBP.

Vaccines: VPD-VAC/Polio/Disease FAQs

The polio vaccine has virtually eliminated polio. Polio epidemics were cyclic like almost every disease with sometimes of low incidence and sometimes of high incidence. If naturally immunity was the cause of decreased incidence of polio then how does one explain the sudden reemergence of polio in Africa when the polio vaccine was stopped.

What are some of the myths – and facts – about vaccination?

Online Q&A

April 2013

Q: What are some of the myths – and facts – about vaccination?

A: Myth 1: Better hygiene and sanitation will make diseases disappear – vaccines are not necessary. FALSE

Fact 1: The diseases we can vaccinate against will return if we stop vaccination programmes. While better hygiene, hand washing and clean water help protect people from infectious diseases, many infections can spread regardless of how clean we are. If people are not vaccinated, diseases that have become uncommon, such as polio and measles, will quickly reappear.

Myth 2: Vaccines have several damaging and long-term side-effects that are yet unknown. Vaccination can even be fatal. FALSE

Fact 2: Vaccines are very safe. Most vaccine reactions are usually minor and temporary, such as a sore arm or mild fever. Very serious health events are extremely rare and are carefully monitored and investigated. You are far more likely to be seriously injured by a vaccine-preventable disease than by a vaccine. For example, in the case of polio, the disease can cause paralysis, measles can cause encephalitis and blindness, and some vaccine-preventable diseases can even result in death. While any serious injury or death caused by vaccines is one too many, the benefits of vaccination greatly outweigh the risk, and many, many more injuries and deaths would occur without vaccines.

Myth 3: The combined vaccine against diphtheria, tetorifice and pertussis (whooping cough) and the vaccine against poliomyelitis cause sudden infant death syndrome. FALSE

Fact 3: There is no causal link between the administering of the vaccines and sudden infant death, however, these vaccines are administered at a time when babies can suffer sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).,. In other words, the SIDS deaths are co-incidental to vaccination and would have occurred even if no vaccinations had been given. It is important to remember that these four diseases are life-threatening and babies who are not vaccinated against them are at serious risk of death or serious disability.

Myth 4: Vaccine-preventable diseases are almost eradicated in my country, so there is no reason to be vaccinated. FALSE

Fact 4: Although vaccine preventable diseases have become uncommon in many countries, the infectious agents that cause them continue to circulate in some parts of the world. In a highly inter-connected world, these agents can cross geographical borders and infect anyone who is not protected. In western Europe, for example, measles outbreaks have occurred in unvaccinated populations in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom since 2005. So two key reasons to get vaccinated are to protect ourselves and to protect those around us. Successful vaccination programmes, like successful societies, depend on the cooperation of every individual to ensure the good of all. We should not rely on people around us to stop the spread of disease; we, too, must do what we can.

Myth 5: Vaccine-preventable childhood illnesses are just an unfortunate fact of life. FALSE

Fact 5: Vaccine preventable diseases do not have to be ‘facts of life’. Illnesses such as measles, mumps and rubella are serious and can lead to severe complications in both children and adults, including pneumonia, encephalitis, blindness, diarrhoea, ear infections, congenital rubella syndrome (if a woman becomes infected with rubella in early pregnancy), and death. All these diseases and suffering can be prevented with vaccines. Failure to vaccinate against these diseases leaves children unnecessarily vulnerable.

Myth 6: Giving a child more than one vaccine at a time can increase the risk of harmful side-effects, which can overload the child’s immune system. FALSE

Fact 6: Scientific evidence shows that giving several vaccines at the same time has no adverse effect on a child’s immune system. Children are exposed to several hundred foreign substances that trigger an immune response every day. The simple act of eating food introduces new antigens into the body, and numerous bacteria live in the mouth and nose. A child is exposed to far more antigens from a common cold or sore throat than they are from vaccines. Key advantages of having several vaccines at once is fewer clinic visits, which saves time and money, and children are more likely to complete the recommended vaccinations on schedule. Also, when it is possible to have a combined vaccination, e.g. for measles, mumps and rubella, that means fewer injections.

Myth 7: Influenza is just a nuisance, and the vaccine isn’t very effective. FALSE

Fact 7: Influenza is much more than a nuisance. It is a serious disease that kills 300 000-500 000 people worldwide every year. Pregnant women, small children, elderly people with poor health and anyone with a chronic condition, like asthma or heart disease, are at higher risk for severe infection and death. Vaccinating pregnant women has the added benefit of protecting their newborns (there is currently no vaccine for babies under six months). Vaccination offers immunity to the three most prevalent strains circulating in any given season. It is the best way to reduce your chances of severe flu and of spreading it to others. Avoiding the flu means avoiding extra medical care costs and lost income from missing days of work or school.

Myth 8: It is better to be immunized through disease than through vaccines. FALSE

Fact 8: Vaccines interact with the immune system to produce an immune response similar to that produced by the natural infection, but they do not cause the disease or put the immunized person at risk of its potential complications. In contrast, the price paid for getting immunity through natural infection might be mental retardation from Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), birth defects from rubella, liver cancer from hepatitis B virus, or death from measles.

Myth 9: Vaccines contain mercury which is dangerous. FALSE

Fact 9: Thiomersal is an organic, mercury-containing compound added to some vaccines as a preservative. It is the most widely-used preservative for vaccines that are provided in multi-dose vials. There is no evidence to suggest that the amount of thiomersal used in vaccines poses a health risk.

Myth 10: Vaccines cause autism FALSE

Fact 10: The 1998 study which raised concerns about a possible link between measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine and autism was later found to be seriously flawed, and the paper has been retracted by the journal that published it. Unfortunately, its publication set off a panic that led to dropping immunization rates, and subsequent outbreaks of these diseases. There is no evidence of a link between MMR vaccine and autism or autistic disorders.

Kate O’Brien and Anita ZaidiJanuary 27, 2013 09:16

Rumors and myths harm effort to eradicate polio

20-year effort to make world polio-free “breathtakingly close” to goal.

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ENLARGE

A Pakistani health worker gives polio vaccine drops to a child at a vaccination center in Peshawar on Sep. 11, 2012. Polio vaccination campaigns in rural Pakistan have long suffered because of rumors they are a plot to sterilize Muslims. In July the Taliban banned them in the northwestern tribal region of Waziristan to protest against US drone attacks. (A. Majeed/AFP/Getty Images)

WHO | What are some of the myths ? and facts ? about vaccination?

BALTMORE — The world has expressed shock and sadness following the wave of killings of health workers in Pakistan tasked with delivering polio vaccines in areas where polio still persists. Those murdered were mostly women and teenage girls, dedicating their time to provide infants and children with the most basic of health services.

Frontline health workers have been the backbone of the polio eradication campaign for more than 20 years. Their tireless work has brought the Global Polio Eradication Initiative breathtakingly close to achieving the goal of wiping the disease from the planet.

Since 1988, billions of children have been vaccinated, sparing them the devastating effects of polio. The accomplishments of the polio eradication campaign have been tremendous and just this week, India celebrated its two year milestone of being polio-free. Only three polio-endemic countries remain: Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan.

Many public health endeavors with similar results would be deemed a runaway success, but a single polio outbreak threatens re-establishment of the virus even in areas previously declared free of the disease.

The virus is spread by person-to-person contact and contaminated food or water. Most infected individuals are symptomless and only one in 200 cases ever result in irreversible paralysis.

The virus can lie in wait, circulating in communities, infecting an increasing number of people without any sign, until someone, most often a child, develops paralysis. If these biological complexities were not enough, there are other factors that complicate the eradication campaign. Public mistrust of vaccines, unsanitary living conditions, overcrowding, logistical challenges with vaccine delivery, and limited political involvement all hamper the effort.

To address these barriers, the global polio eradication campaign has rallied a vast number of institutions, organizations and individuals. Central to the eradication effort are frontline health workers — those putting their lives on the line to help others access this care.

Violence against vaccinators in Pakistan has been a tragic setback, yet public health workers have battled rumor and resistance to vaccine campaigns for years.

Rumors that polio vaccines were a ruse to sterilize children have long circulated in some Muslim communities, and others perpetuate the myth that polio vaccine is contaminated with HIV. In places where illiteracy is high and access to information is limited, these myths are hard to debunk.

Although completely unrelated to polio vaccine efforts, the 2011 attempt to confirm the location of Osama bin Laden with the use of a hepatitis B vaccine program eroded trust in all immunization programs — trust that local and global public health communities legitimately earned through decades of dedication and achievement.

Undeterred by the killings, vaccination efforts in Pakistan have been re-instated in the most high-risk polio areas, and include paramilitary and police support to protect vaccinators. The Pakistani government’s strong commitment to ensure the country is taking the right steps to achieve eradication is a positive response in the midst of these tragedies.

As Pakistan takes its own measures to protect the health and safety of its citizens and health workers, the global community must continue to support them in doing so.

The United States and all governments around the world must ensure that health issues are never again entangled in intelligence operations or held hostage to politics and power.

In a world without borders, where people and the germs they carry travel freely, we must remain committed to the fight against polio, and speak out against deeply misplaced tactics that jeopardize the goal of eradication and the vaccines that will achieve that goal. Our lives depend on it.

Kate O’Brien is acting executive director of the International Vaccine Access Center at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore. Anita Zaidi is professor and chair, Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Aga Khan University in Karachi, Pakistan.

Rumors and myths harm effort to eradicate polio | GlobalPost

[roxalot]

Thanks for the info. I really appreciate it. I don't think it will change my husbands mind, I do fear he has been indoctrinated in some things when it comes to medical care (however he does believe in acute emergency care, as his father broke his bone and tore his brachial artery last week and was life flighted and it saved his life).

I fear this is going to become a huge issue in our marriage. I'm going to have to try to convince him in baby steps, and in the meantime our daughter is already 14 mos. old. (she did get the hep b in the hospital and he has no idea about that. I don't like lying to him, but he has never asked.)

[wtbcrna, MSN, DNP, CRNA]

Thanks for the info. I really appreciate it. I don't think it will change my husbands mind, I do fear he has been indoctrinated in some things when it comes to medical care (however he does believe in acute emergency care, as his father broke his bone and tore his brachial artery last week and was life flighted and it saved his life).

I fear this is going to become a huge issue in our marriage. I'm going to have to try to convince him in baby steps, and in the meantime our daughter is already 14 mos. old. (she did get the hep b in the hospital and he has no idea about that. I don't like lying to him, but he has never asked.)

I am well aware of some the "naturalistic" teachings by chiropractors, and all I can tell you is that is your child and you have every right to protect your child from harm....

[Tinker88]

I'm just playing devils advocate here....Why are the parents of vaccinated kids worried about the unvaccinated kids? If the "other children" are vaccinated, aren't they protected?? So according to the way the science says vaccinations work why the need to homeschool unvaccinated kids? Vaccinated kids are supposed to be safe from whatever they are vaccinated with.

I can understand where you are coming from, but viruses are constantly mutating into new strands. One type of flu shot protects against certain flu strands. If I remember correctly that's why people were concerned about H1N1. People were not protected from that strand when they received their shot.

I wouldn't be surprised if many of these parents didn't vaccinate their children due to pure laziness! You would be shocked with how many rotten teeth I saw as a teacher because parents wouldn't take their children to the dentist! Seriously black rotten chipped teeth. It was sad:(

[Tinker88]

I believe it is our civic duty to society to be vaccinated. There are a few vaccinations, not required in school (but recommended), that I do question though, e.g. Gardasil.

[DemonWings]

Discussions like this just make me cringe! I'm all for vaccinations, but I too, have one child who has airway compromise with the flu vaccine. Makes me feel like she's a sitting duck around flu season. I wish they would make a True allergy friendly flu vaccine.

[bxpansive]

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but not vaccinating and advocating non-vaccinations especially when working in healthcare is a danger to yourself and every patient. The old and young are extremely vulnerable and just because someone does not become symptomatic that does not mean they are not a carrier especially if they are around a large segment of close contacts that are unvaccinated.

I encourage you to post any scientific peer-reviewed research stating that some or any vaccine is not necessary that is routinely used in the United States.

Here's a reputable webpage that does not give me any confidence in the flu vaccine: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/vaccination/effectivenessqa.htm

There are so many caveats regarding the effectiveness of the flu vaccine that I do not find persuasive data that the vaccine is worth taking. Moreover, this article/statement uses phrases that many experts constantly use as arguments against others, such as, "One study . . . One study . . . One study." We all know that scientific conclusions require multiple, well designed, well analyzed studies.

I think if professionals and experts did not use the same arguments for their own interests as they use to argue against others, then maybe the public would be more confident in the advice that so many experts think is "obvious."

I offer praise to the CDC that they wrote up this article in such a transparent manner. I don't have a problem with this article. I have a problem with "experts" who are not up front and honest about the accuracy and veracity of their data and who want to people to take their word because they have some degree. There is too much BS in the healthcare system for people not to question the "experts."

[wtbcrna, MSN, DNP, CRNA]

Here's a reputable webpage that does not give me any confidence in the flu vaccine: CDC - Seasonal Influenza (Flu) - Flu Vaccine Effectiveness

There are so many caveats regarding the effectiveness of the flu vaccine that I do not find persuasive data that the vaccine is worth taking. Moreover, this article/statement uses phrases that many experts constantly use as arguments against others, such as, "One study . . . One study . . . One study." We all know that scientific conclusions require multiple, well designed, well analyzed studies.

I think if professionals and experts did not use the same arguments for their own interests as they use to argue against others, then maybe the public would be more confident in the advice that so many experts think is "obvious."

I offer praise to the CDC that they wrote up this article in such a transparent manner. I don't have a problem with this article. I have a problem with "experts" who are not up front and honest about the accuracy and veracity of their data and who want to people to take their word because they have some degree. There is too much BS in the healthcare system for people not to question the "experts."

I read through the web page and there is nothing in there to support not getting the flu vaccine. I have no problem with people "questioning the experts" but it needs to be done with fully formed facts and peer-reviewed scientific evidence. The CDC did a good job of trying to explain why the flu vaccine should be used and the current effectiveness. It also gave a good overview of the importance of herd immunity. The cost savings alone for healthy adults not missing work d/t not getting the flu would amount to billions of dollars annually.

"Each year an estimated 15-61 million people in the U.S. contract the flu.

1

People often misunderstand and underestimate the serious and even deadly complications that can arise as a result. Myths surrounding the flu may contribute to the fact that, in the United States, more than 226,000 people are hospitalized for flu related complications and an average of 36,000 people die annually.

2"

Debunking the Myths - American Lung Association

[h=1]Effectiveness of seasonal influenza vaccines in children -- a systematic review and meta-analysis.[/h]

Lukšić I, Clay S, Falconer R, Pulanic D, Rudan I, Campbell H, Nair H.

[h=3]Source[/h]Ivana Luksic, Institute of Public Health, Dr Andrija Štampar, Department of Microbiology, Mirogojska 16, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia. [email protected]

[h=3]Abstract[/h][h=4]AIM:[/h]To assess the efficacy and effectiveness of seasonal influenza vaccines in healthy children up to the age of 18 years.

[h=4]METHODS:[/h]MedLine, EMBASE, CENTRAL, CINAHL, WHOLIS, LILACS, and Global Health were searched for randomized controlled trials and cohort and case-control studies investigating the efficacy or effectiveness of influenza vaccines in healthy children up to the age of 18 years. The studies were assessed for their quality and data on the outcomes of influenza-like illness, laboratory-confirmed influenza, and hospitalizations were extracted. Seven meta-analyses were performed for different vaccines and different study outcomes.

[h=4]RESULTS:[/h]Vaccine efficacy for live vaccines, using random effects model, was as follows: (i) for similar antigen, using per-protocol analysis: 83.4% (78.3%-88.8%); (ii) for similar antigen, using intention to treat analysis: 82.5 (76.7%-88.6%); (iii) for any antigen, using per protocol analysis: 76.4% (68.7%-85.0%); (iv) for any antigen, using intention to treat analysis: 76.7% (68.8%-85.6%). Vaccine efficacy for inactivated vaccines, for similar antigen, using random effects model, was 67.3% (58.2%-77.9%). Vaccine effectiveness against influenza-like illness for live vaccines, using random effects model, was 31.4% (24.8%-39.6%) and using fixed-effect model 44.3% (42.6%-45.9%). Vaccine effectiveness against influenza-like illness for inactivated vaccines, using random effects model, was 32.5% (20.0%-52.9%) and using fixed-effect model 42.6% (38.3%-47.5%).

[h=4]CONCLUSIONS:[/h]Influenza vaccines showed high efficacy in children, particularly live vaccines. Effectiveness was lower and the data on hospitalizations were very limited.

Effectiveness of seasonal influenza vaccines in ... [Croat Med J. 2013] - PubMed - NCBI

Int Nurs Rev. 2012 Jun;59(2):161-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1466-7657.2011.00961.x. Epub 2011 Dec 2.

[h=1]Protecting patients, protecting healthcare workers: a review of the role of influenza vaccination.[/h]

Music T.

[h=3]Source[/h]Influenza Vaccines, IFPMA IVS, Geneva, Switzerland. [email protected]

[h=3]Abstract[/h][h=4]AIM:[/h]Many health authorities recommend routine influenza vaccination for healthcare workers (HCWs), and during the 2009 A (H1N1) pandemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended immunization of all HCWs worldwide. As this remains an important area of policy debate, this paper examines the case for vaccination, the role of local guidelines, barriers to immunization and initiatives to increase uptake.

[h=4]BACKGROUND:[/h]Seasonal influenza is a major threat to public health, causing up to 1 million deaths annually. Extensive evidence supports the vaccination of priority groups, including HCWs. Immunization protects HCWs themselves, and their vulnerable patients from nosocomial influenzainfections. In addition, influenza can disrupt health services and impact healthcare organizations financially. Immunization can reduce staff absences, offer cost savings and provide economic benefits.

[h=4]METHODS:[/h]This paper reviews official immunization recommendations and HCW vaccination studies, including a recent International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA) survey of 26 countries from each region of the world.

[h=4]RESULTS:[/h]HCW immunization is widely recommended and supported by the WHO. In the IFPMA study, 88% of countries recommended HCW vaccination, and 61% supported this financially (with no correlation to country development status). Overall, coverage can be improved, and research shows that uptake may be impacted by lack of conveniently available vaccines and misconceptions regarding vaccine safety/efficacy andinfluenza risk.

[h=4]CONCLUSIONS:[/h]Many countries recommend HCW vaccination against influenza. In recent years, there has been an increased uptake rate among HCWs in some countries, but not in others. Several initiatives can increase coverage, including education, easy access to free vaccines and the use of formal declination forms. The case for HCW vaccination is clear, and in an effort to further accelerate uptake as a patient safety measure, an increasing number of healthcare organizations, particularly in the USA, are implementing mandatory immunization policies, similar to other obligatory hygiene measures. However, it would be desirable if similar high vaccination uptake rates could be achieved through voluntary procedures.

© 2011 The Author. International Nursing Review © 2011 International Council of Nurses.

Protecting patients, protecting healthcare work... [int Nurs Rev. 2012] - PubMed - NCBI

BMC Medicine | Full text | Comparing influenza vaccine efficacy against mismatched and matched strains: a systematic review and meta-analysis

13 Flu Myths: Myths About the Flu Vaccine, Treatments, and Prevention

Flu vaccine myths and facts - Seasonal Influenza - Vermont Department of Health