# 3794
Yes . . . I know.
I might as well paint a bull's-eye on my back, since this post is going to enrage a fair number of HCWs (Health Care Workers).
But I didn’t conduct the poll, nor did I respond to it.
I’m only reporting the results (but see my comments below).
At hat tip to @Allnurses on Twitter for the link.
Data Source
This report presents findings from a nationally representative household survey conducted exclusively by Knowledge Networks, Inc, for C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital via a method used in many published studies. The survey was administered in August 2009 to a randomly selected, stratified group of adults aged 18 and older (n=2,365) from the Knowledge Networks standing panel that closely resembles the U.S. population (health care workers n=246).
The sample was subsequently weighted to reflect population figures from the Census Bureau. The survey completion rate was 68% among panel members contacted to participate. The margin of error is plus or minus 1 to 3 percentage points. For results based on health care workers, the margin of error is higher
This poll comes from C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health Volume 8, Issue 2 (October 1st, 2009).
Here are excerpts from the press release. Follow the link to read it in its entirety.
Public tells health care workers: Get your H1N1 flu vaccine!
C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health finds nearly 90% of public supports required H1N1 vaccination for health care workers in case of outbreak
ANN ARBOR, Mich.—As H1N1 influenza vaccine begins to be shipped across the country, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention emphasize getting the first doses to high-priority groups. One such group is health care workers. A report released today by the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health shows 87 percent of the public believes health care workers should be required to be vaccinated against H1N1 flu in case of an outbreak, while only 38 percent of health care workers intend to get the H1N1 flu vaccine.
“We have heard from public health experts and health care workers—and now we see how strongly the public feels about their health care workers getting vaccinated against H1N1 flu,” says Matthew Davis, M.D., M.A.P.P., director of the poll and associate professor of pediatrics and internal medicine in the Child Health Evaluation and Research Unit at the U-M Medical School. “The public clearly expects health care workers to lead by example.”
DOWNLOADS:FULL REPORT: www.med.umich.edu/mott/npch/pdf/100109report.pdf
FIGURES: www.med.umich.edu/mott/npch/pdf/100109figures.pdf
POLL QUESTIONS: www.med.umich.edu/mott/npch/pdf/100109questions.pdf
Since I’m one of the `misguided’ ones who thinks that the flu vaccine is generally very safe, and a very good idea for just about everyone - but particularly for HCWs - I’ll admit that I don’t share the outrage that many health care workers feel when it comes to talk of requiring the vaccine.
I would far prefer that any doctor, nurse, or hospital employee that I’m exposed to have their yearly flu jab. I believe that not getting vaccinated endangers patient’s lives, and violates the first rule of medicine: Primum non nocere - "First, do no harm”
Although I consider the uptake rate of flu vaccines among HCWs in this country to be disgraceful, I fall just short of wanting to see the flu vaccine mandatory for all HCWs.
At least for now.
Instead I would hope that all health care facilities would to do all they can to encourage, and make easy, getting vaccinated. Flu shots should be free, and available on site, to all employees. Concerted employee education should be undertaken.
Employees who wish to `opt-out’ of getting the vaccine could be accommodated by requiring them to wear surgical masks while on duty when flu is circulating in their community (and facilities should send anyone home – vaccinated or not - if they are symptomatic!).
I know it’s a hassle, but the point is to protect patients, families, and co-workers. It’s not a perfect solution (neither are vaccines, btw), but compromises rarely are.
Perhaps, if we get through this flu season and the dire predictions of the anti-vaccine contingent don’t come to pass, some of the angst and mistrust over flu vaccines will begin to dissolve and we can have a less strident discussion.
Over the next few years, I expect to see mandatory HCW flu vaccinations required in more places. The writing is on the wall. The public, and growing liability concerns, are going to demand it.
While I understand some HCWs may not like that idea, they may very well find they have to accept it.
