Srinagar, Nov 20 (KNS): “Patients in Kashmir hospitals are being put at risk as so many doctors, nurses and paramedical staff have not received swine flu vaccine,” said Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on Wednesday in a communiqué.
“Medical staff imperil patients by snubbing flu shots,” said DAK President and flu expert Dr Nisar-ul-Hassan.
“Unvaccinated staff have the potential to transmit flu to patients who are vulnerable to flu-related complications and death,” he said.
Dr Nisar said during hospitalization, patients are 5-35 times more likely to acquire flu if exposed to infected healthcare workers.
“Patients entrust healthcare workers with their lives and clinicians should not be the ones to make them sick,” he added.
Calling for mandatory flu vaccination of medical staff, Dr Nisar said that would increase vaccination rates among medical personnel and provide safe environment in hospitals to patient care.
He said mandatory policies are being increasingly adopted by healthcare institutions and public health authorities and that has increased vaccine coverage.
In United States, compulsory vaccination increased coverage rates from 64% in 2007 to 98% in 2008 among health care workers.
Dr Nisar said there is a moral imperative for hospital staff to be immune and health care institutions to ensure staff vaccination for patient safety.
“Studies have shown to decrease morality among patients when healthcare workers were vaccinated, he said adding that vaccination of staff has shown to reduce flu related deaths by 40%.”
He further said vaccine also protects health care workers themselves from getting sick and prevents disruption of healthcare delivery system.
“This year’s flu might be worse than last year, based on the south hemispheres recently ended flu session which was harsh and unusual that indicates what is in store for us next,” Dr Nisar said. (KNS)