AMA Applauds New CDC Flu Vaccine Recommendations for Health Care Professionals
Posted on: Thursday, 9 February 2006, 15:00 CST
WASHINGTON, Feb. 9 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The following is a statement by American Medical Association trustee Ardis D. Hoven, M.D. on flu vaccination rates among health care professionals:
"The American Medical Association applauds the CDC for recommending enhanced strategies to increase flu vaccination rates among health care professionals. The AMA has long called for health care employers to take the lead in ensuring staff vaccinations, and we hope the CDC's recommendations encourage greater efforts by employers.
"To improve vaccination rates among health care workers, employers must consider three key points -- convenience, cost and education. Health care employers should provide the flu vaccine at the workplace, during all shifts, free of cost, and reinforce the importance of the vaccine to their employees.
"America's health care professionals are the front line in the fight against communicable illnesses. The AMA encourages physicians and nurses to lead by example and get the flu vaccine. Studies have shown that vaccination of health care professionals has been associated with fewer deaths among nursing home patients. The flu can cause serious and sometimes deadly complications in elderly people and those with existing medical conditions. The flu causes 110,000 hospitalizations and 36,000 deaths every year -- that's a horrifically high statistic for a preventable illness.
"When health care professionals get the flu vaccine they protect not just themselves -- but also their patients and loved ones."
http://www.usnewswire.com
Source: U.S. Newswire
Related Articles
- 'Future of Autos, Future of Health Care' to Be Examined by the Michigan State Medical Society and the Michigan Dental Association
- Business, Health Care Leaders Call on Texas Employers to Cover Smoking Cessation Benefits for an Additional 100,000 People by 2010
- Rollout of New Health Care Provider Tools Creates Meaningful Transactions to Streamline Medical Claims
- U.S. Health Care System Fails to Protect Patients From Deadly Medical Errors
- Many Health Care Workers Refuse Annual Flu Shots
- New Survey: Consumer-Directed Health Plan Growth Levels Off Among Employers; Plan Sponsors Embrace Generics
- State's Home Health Care Ranked Among the Worst
- Health Care Bill Among Deadline Casualties
- Health Care to Be Focus of Session, Manchin Wants Medical Providers to Simplify Billing
- Health Care Coverage Varies Widely Among Asian American and Pacific Islander Children
 |
 |
User Comments (0)
RSS Feeds