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VICTORIA — When it comes to flu shots, British Columbia’s provincial health officer says he would like to see those in health care lead by example.

Dr. Perry Kendall says he is of the view that seasonal flu shots should be mandatory for health care workers because they owe a duty of care to patients, particularly young children and the elderly who are most vulnerable to influenza. “Most professional health care organizations think, ethically, ‘First, do no harm’ is a guiding principal for health care workers.”

The workers do not believe they will get sick, Dr. Kendall says, but adds that no one can predict if he or she will become ill. And by the time someone feels flu symptoms, he or she will have been highly infectious for 24 hours.

It also sends a positive message to the public when nurses or doctors receive flu shots, Dr. Kendall argues, adding that he believes more people would get vaccinated if health authorities could report higher inoculation rates among health care workers.

Some employees opt not to get vaccinated because of concerns over side effects — a few years ago the flu shot caused redness and wheezing in a small number of people — or inconvenience, he says, but points out that vaccination rates have not improved even when hospitals make shots available on site.

Residential, long-term care facilities tend to have the highest immunization rates, at about 60 per cent; acute care facilities are at the lower end, with approximately 40 per cent.

In some jurisdictions and health care facilities in the United States, where the flu vaccine is mandated or a condition of employment, vaccination rates can be as much as 98 per cent, Dr. Kendall reports. “If we don’t get vaccination rates up this year, I suspect the discussion will turn to how we can work with health care worker organizations to move this forward.”

The British Columbia Nurses’ Union urges members to get vaccinated, but acknowledges that some may not want to do so for religious or legitimate health reasons.

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