Doctors and nurses should receive the H1N1 vaccine.
That’s the take-home message from my latest opinion piece in The New York Times’ Room for Debate blog, published earlier this week:
There are over 11 million health care providers working in our hospitals, nursing homes and medical clinics. And with studies suggesting that 70 percent of doctors plan to continue working despite being sick with flu-like symptoms, tens of thousands of contagious workers can potentially infect patients who are already sick, or predisposed to flu complications. We owe it to our patients to receive the H1N1 influenza vaccine.
I’m also flattered to be included with other esteemed health care bloggers in FierceHealthcare’s Nine Healthcare Bloggers Worth a Click:
These days, you can read any of hundreds of physician-written blogs, but few offer the insightful, relevant mix of health care business material Kevin, MD provides. It’s useful medical news with just a twist of Dr. Pho included.
But wait, there’s more, like the MGMA’s In Practice blog’s 10 healthcare Twitterers you should follow.
I appreciate the mentions, and I’m honored to be included in such fine company.
Update:
Just in this afternoon, Forbes.com released their Must-Read Health Blogs. Thanks for including me, and I also recommend visiting the other well-deserved sites as well.
Related posts:
- Op-ed: Reasons why health care workers need to receive the H1N1 flu vaccine
- Poll: Doctors and nurses should get vaccinated against the seasonal flu and H1N1 influenza
- Flu and H1N1 influenza vaccine recommendations for doctors and health care workers
- Both the far left and right agree not to receive the H1N1 vaccine
- Does the seasonal flu vaccine offer protection against H1N1 influenza?
- How will the H1N1 vaccine be distributed to patients?
- Why pregnant women should get the H1N1 flu vaccine
{ 1 comment }
could someone please explain to me the need for this vaccine, other than for those with compromised immune systems or those constantly in direct contact with the sick. Children need to become sick for their immune system to properly develop in order to cope with attacks in the future. Immunizations for serious diseases are of course warrented, but flu strains change seasonally. what is the point of immunizing people for something that may change in 6 months time. why not let our natural immune system handle this threat without intervening with medication. Even if there is no risk factor with relation to the vaccine itself, why bother? is it better to “prep” the immune system in a healthy individual, or allow our systems to handle the flu “naturally.” all comments appreciated…
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