EMS Has a Responsibility to Be Vaccinated Against Influenza

This study comes from Switzerland, where the authors attempted to determine whether or not EMS providers were more likely to obtain an influenza vaccine in the context of a pandemic influenza (PI) outbreak as compared to the seasonal influenza (SI).   They used a survey of EMS providers in a single city with a population of 130,000. Sixty-six of the town's 69 EMS providers responded. The survey was sent one year after the 2009 influenza pandemic, at which time the protocol instructed EMS providers to be vaccinated. Those refusing were required to wear a surgical mask during patient care for the duration of the influenza season. Vaccination rates were 40% for both PI and SI, 19% for PI only, 1.6% for SI only, and 39% refusing vaccination against either PI and SI. Of those receiving both vaccines, 92% had been vaccinated in the previous three years; however, 30% indicated they wouldn't get the vaccination in next season. During the pandemic, vaccination increased from 26% to 42% of providers. Altruism (for the good of the community) and discomfort from wearing the surgical mask were the main motivations for getting vaccinated against pandemic influenza. However, the option of wearing the mask, avoidance of medications, fear of adverse effects, and concerns of the effectiveness of the vaccine were the primary reasons for not being vaccinated.
Source: JEMS Patient Care - Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Tags: Columns Patient Care Source Type: news