Excelsior Correspondent
SRINGAR, Nov 19: Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) today called for compulsory flu vaccination of medical staff that would ensure patient safety in Valley.
Expressing concern over low vaccination rates among healthcare workers, the DAK president, Dr Nisar-ul-Hassan 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,” he said.
Dr Nisar said the 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,” he said.
The DAK president said that there is a moral imperative for hospital staff to be immune and for healthcare institutions to ensure staff vaccination for patient safety.
Mandatory policies are being increasingly adopted by healthcare institutions and public health authorities and that has increased vaccine coverage, the DAK president said, adding that 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,” the DAK president added.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel