Flu Vaccine

Should the Flu Vaccine be mandatory for healthcare workers?

By: Rusty Clark ~ 100K Photos

What exactly is the flu vaccine?

The flu vaccine is recommended annually (each year) for persons at high risk for serious complications from influenza virus infection.

 

Forty two percent of people worry about getting the flu each year. The majority of people get sick, and automatically think they have the flu virus. The video below describes the symptoms that come with the flu, and what symptoms are usually just a common cold.

 

What are the stats?

  • The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, conduct studies annually has found immunization reduces the risk of flu illness by 40 percent to 60 percent.
  • Older people with weaker immune systems often have a lower protective immune response after flu vaccination compared to younger, healthier people.
  • In 2015-2016 the vaccine prevented 52.4% of flu cases
  • In 2016-2017 the vaccine prevented 39.8% of flu cases
  • The numbers are significantly down in long term facilities with elderly patients being affected by influenza.
  • Flu vaccines have been given for more than 50 years, and have a safe track record.
  • Every year an estimated 36,00 Americans die due to the flu virus.

Fiction about the flu vaccine

By: Daniel Paquet
  • Flu shot will cause the flu
  • Never having the flu shot will make you less likely to get the flu
  • The flu shot does not work
  • Healthy people do not get the flu
  • You cant spread the flu if you’re feeling well
  • Enough people get the flu shot so I do not have too

Benefits and facts of the flu vaccine

Receiving the vaccine helps stop the spread of the influenza virus, and this is extremely important with the elderly, children, pregnant woman, and people with medical conditions. The flu virus is contagious two days before having any symptoms which gives two days for the virus to be spread without knowing. Even if the vaccine doesn’t completely prevent the flu, it may lessen the severity of your illness and the risk of serious complications.

References

Nichol KL, Lind A, Margolis KL, Murdoch M, McFadden R, Hauge M, … Drake M. (1995). The effectiveness of vaccination against influenza in healthy, working adults. New England Journal of Medicine, 1995(14), 889–893. Retrieved from http://library.neit.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=cgh&AN=CN-00117971&site=ehost-live

Jefferson, T., Rivetti, D., Rivetti, A., Rudin, M., Di Pietrantonj, C., & Demicheli, V. (2005). Efficacy and effectiveness of influenza vaccines in elderly people: a systematic review. Lancet, 366(9492), 1165–1174. https://library.neit.edu:2404/10.1016/S0140-6736(05)67339-4

VENSEL, M. (2018). Flu vaccine programs for providers: Making it legal, effective, and mandatory. Patient Safety Monitor Journal, 19(9), 7–9. Retrieved fromhttp://library.neit.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ccm&AN=131246409&site=ehost-live