Srinagar, Nov 19 (KNS): Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) today called for compulsory flu vaccination of medical staff that would ensure patient safety.
Expressing concern over low vaccination rates among healthcare workers, President DAK Dr Nisar ul Hassan in a statement said mandatory flu shots for medical personnel would provide safe environment in hospitals to patient care.
Despite recommendations majority of doctors, nurses and paramedical staff are unvaccinated putting lives of patients at risk.
Healthcare workers imperil patients by snubbing flu shots.
Patients die in hospitals because they are treated by unimmunized healthcare workers.
Unvaccinated staff has the potential to transmit flu to patients who are vulnerable to flu-related complications and death.
During hospitalization, patients are 5-35 times more likely to acquire flu if exposed to infected healthcare workers.
Studies have shown to decrease mortality among patients when healthcare workers were vaccinated.
Vaccination of staff has shown to reduce flu-related deaths by 40%.
Also, vaccine protects healthcare workers themselves from getting sick and prevents disruption of healthcare delivery system.
There is a moral imperative for hospital staff to be immune and for healthcare institutions to ensure staff vaccination for patient safety.
Patients entrust healthcare workers with their lives and clinicians should not be the ones to make them sick.
Mandatory policies are being increasingly adopted by healthcare institutions and public health authorities and that has increased vaccine coverage.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
In United States compulsory vaccination increased coverage rates from 64% in 2007 to 98% in 2008 among healthcare workers.
With flu season set in, the best way to protect yourself and people around you is to get a flu shot.
Worldwide, flu causes between 3 and 5 million cases of severe disease each year and 250,000 to 500,000 deaths. (KNS)