kwillia
n/a
Interesting... huge publicity push to get the general public on board... but those 'in the know' are leary. 
C’mon health workers, get your swine flu shots - Swine flu- msnbc.com
A study published this week at bmj.com, the online version of the British Medical Journal, reported that nearly half of health care workers surveyed in Hong Kong earlier this year said they would refuse the swine flu vaccine because of fears of side effects and doubts about efficacy.
That study came on the heels of a United Kingdom poll that showed 30 percent of nurses would turn down the H1N1 shots, and researchers believe it’s a good indicator of health worker reluctance worldwide.
The reasons health staffers in the U.S. and elsewhere give for not getting flu shots range widely, said Robert M. Pestronk, executive director of the National Association of County and City Health Officials. Some say they never get sick, so they don’t get it. Others believe that the vaccine won’t work. Others say they’ll stay home if they get sick.
“And some say they don’t like needles,” Pestronk said.
Comments on Nurse.com, an online chat group for professionals, bear that out.
“I’m not rolling up my sleeve for anyone,” wrote one self-identified nurse. “It’s my opinion that flu vaccines are hit and miss at best, and by the time the virus mutates its way into the population, the original vaccine is kaput. Viruses are smarter than vaccines.”
Such attitudes frustrate officials like Cheryl Peterson, a registered nurse who is also director of practice and policy for the American Nurses Association in Silver Spring, Md. In public speeches and private conversations, she routinely tells nurses they’re neglecting their professional duty by avoiding vaccination.
“I say, ‘If you haven’t gotten the seasonal vaccine, you should,’” she said. “And shame on you for not doing it.’”
And of important note...
Drugmakers have been granted immunity from liability for the H1N1 vaccine, Fisher noted. That means consumers harmed by the vaccines may have little recourse for injuries or death in the future.
C’mon health workers, get your swine flu shots - Swine flu- msnbc.com
A study published this week at bmj.com, the online version of the British Medical Journal, reported that nearly half of health care workers surveyed in Hong Kong earlier this year said they would refuse the swine flu vaccine because of fears of side effects and doubts about efficacy.
That study came on the heels of a United Kingdom poll that showed 30 percent of nurses would turn down the H1N1 shots, and researchers believe it’s a good indicator of health worker reluctance worldwide.
The reasons health staffers in the U.S. and elsewhere give for not getting flu shots range widely, said Robert M. Pestronk, executive director of the National Association of County and City Health Officials. Some say they never get sick, so they don’t get it. Others believe that the vaccine won’t work. Others say they’ll stay home if they get sick.
“And some say they don’t like needles,” Pestronk said.
Comments on Nurse.com, an online chat group for professionals, bear that out.
“I’m not rolling up my sleeve for anyone,” wrote one self-identified nurse. “It’s my opinion that flu vaccines are hit and miss at best, and by the time the virus mutates its way into the population, the original vaccine is kaput. Viruses are smarter than vaccines.”
Such attitudes frustrate officials like Cheryl Peterson, a registered nurse who is also director of practice and policy for the American Nurses Association in Silver Spring, Md. In public speeches and private conversations, she routinely tells nurses they’re neglecting their professional duty by avoiding vaccination.
“I say, ‘If you haven’t gotten the seasonal vaccine, you should,’” she said. “And shame on you for not doing it.’”
And of important note...
Drugmakers have been granted immunity from liability for the H1N1 vaccine, Fisher noted. That means consumers harmed by the vaccines may have little recourse for injuries or death in the future.
