The most recent addition to the Flutube channel is a production entitled Can You Afford the Flu? It features a number of healthcare specialists including Professor Robert Booy (Head of Research, National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance of Vaccine Preventable Diseases), Dr Dominic Dwyer (virologist), and Dr Alan Hampson (Chair of the ISG).

Can You Afford the Flu? explains why it is so important for healthcare workers to be vaccinated against influenza. Primum non nocere (first, do no harm) is a concept taught to health professionals in their early training, and is very relevant to healthcare workers in relation to influenza.

Research has shown that increasing the rate of vaccination of nursing staff in nursing homes from 10% to 50%, a reduction of 50% in deaths can be achieved (from all causes) during the flu season. (Heyward et al, BMJ Dec 2006)

Influenza vaccination among healthcare workers

The ISG has also developed a discussion paper on Vaccination of Healthcare Workers.

Click on the image for more information, or download the pdf here.

Healthcare workers are often exposed to the flu virus during the course of their work, contributing to substantial rates of infection during the influenza season. In fact, it has been estimated that up to 25% of healthcare workers can contract influenza during any given season.