According to the World Health Organization (WHO), influenza causes approximately 250,000 – 500,000 annual deaths worldwide. The risk of complications associated with influenza is highest among older persons, young children, patients with underlying medical conditions and pregnant women. Influenza infection in these populations can often result in severe, prolonged, devastating illness and even death, along with increased length of hospital stay and added costs.

Physicians and other healthcare workers play an important role in both preventing and transmitting the virus. The virus can be transmitted by symptomatic as well as asymptomatic healthcare professionals, increasing exposure of patients and employees to the virus. Yet, immunization rates among healthcare workers remain very low. Even in developed countries, such as the USA, vaccination rates for influenza among healthcare workers are a little over 40% each year.

The most effective and efficient way of helping to prevent influenza outbreaks is pre-exposure immunization. As the percentage of vaccinated healthcare workers increases, healthcare-associated influenza decreases. Studies indicate that vaccination of health workers decreases influenza infections among them by 88% and reduces patient mortality by 50%. There is also evidence that educational campaigns yield positive results and contribute to increased vaccination coverage among physicians. For example, a study, conducted in the USA, indicated that after an educational intervention, vaccination rates rose from 43% to 64% among physicians, and the primary reason for getting vaccinated shifted from self-protection to protection of patients.

The World Medical Association believes that the medical community has an ethical obligation to act with the safety of its patients as its foremost interest. After all, it is known that health workers can be vectors for the spread of influenza to vulnerable patients and that influenza vaccination of physicians and other healthcare workers protects patients from influenza infection and decreases mortality. Also, the vaccine is safe. Knowing these facts and not acting upon them will diminish the trust and credibility between the medical community and patients and jeopardize the medical professionals’ autonomy and ability to make their own policy decisions. 

With this in mind, WMA, with the support of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA), launched a global campaign to promote influenza immunization among physicians through its National Member Organizations representing over 9 million physicians in 102 countries. The Campaign, entitled “Influenza: We Can Do Better!” was officially launched on April 20^th, the first day of the World Health Organization Immunization Week and has three goals:

• Increase awareness of the importance of influenza immunization among healthcare professionals to reduce nosocomial (hospital-induced) infections
• Encourage physicians to get vaccinated against influenza, as it is their ethical and moral duty to serve as role models and protect vulnerable patients from transmissible diseases
• Enhance physicians’ communication skills to promote health and prevent diseases associated with influenza

Survey on Influenza Immunization Practices

Prior to launching the campaign, the WMA designed and administered a survey with its member associations to understand the degree of their awareness of the importance of influenza vaccination among healthcare workers and assess the need for advocacy materials with which WMA can assist them. To see the summary of the survey results, click here.

Campaign Event: WMA Luncheon

WMA hosted a luncheon seminar during the Sixty-sixth World Health Assembly Week to promote its educational campaign on the importance of annual immunization of physicians against influenza. The seminar, entitled: “Influenza: We Can Do Better,” was well attended by government health ministers (Ministers of Health of Taiwan and Latvia), WHO representatives, non-governmental organizations and civil society groups, including patient organizations (IAPO) and private sector companies.

The speakers included the Minister of Health of Latvia, Dr Ingrida Circene, and a psychologist from the University of Erfurt, Dr Cornelia Betsch. The presenters provided a policy-maker’s and a researcher’s perspective on the vaccine uptake among physicians. Both speakers emphasized the need for education of physicians and other healthcare workers to make annual flu vaccinations part of their routine and set an example for patients to get their flu shots as well.

The presentations were followed by a brief promotional video, which showed real healthcare workers in a clinic caring for their patients and getting vaccinated by a colleague. The message was clear: It is physicians’ duty to take care of their health and protect the ones they care for!

• The event was videotaped and the video is available here.
• For Dr Circene’s presentation, click here.
• For Dr Betsch’s speech, click here.
• To see the campaign promotional video, click here.
• Blog of Dr Wilson (WMA President) on Enhancing Communication around Influenza Vaccination, click here.