The level of vaccination coverage is the result of the interplay of many factors: the commitment, motivation and organization of healthcare workers, policy decisions at the level of the healthcare system and the awareness of patients themselves. Nonetheless, the role of the healthcare worker is crucial. It was recently shown that when a doctor or […]
As a patient’s first point of contact and medical adviser, healthcare workers play a crucial part in the fight against influenza. As a matter of fact, when asked why they take the annual influenza vaccine, a majority (over 60%) of high-risk patients answers: ‘Because my doctor or nurse recommends it’. Indeed, family doctors are in […]
Healtcare workers should be vaccinated against seasonal influenza annually. Although healthy adults do not belong to the at-risk population, there are good reasons for healthcare providers to get immunised against influenza, especially when they have regular contacts with patients and high-risk patients. First of all, an obvious rule of thumb is that healthcare workers should […]
Anyone anywhere can catch influenza and the influenza vaccine can be administered to any person aged 6 months or older to reduce the chance of getting influenza, or to reduce the severity and consequences of the disease. Yet, national and international health authorities worldwide recommend that the influenza vaccine be given to protect people who […]
Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent influenza. Effectiveness of the vaccination varies with the age and immune status of the vaccinated person, the (sub)type of the virus, the degree of similarity between the vaccine and the circulating virus strains, and the length of time from vaccination to exposure to influenza virus. It is […]
Influenza vaccines prevent or mitigate infections. They are designed to induce a protective immune response in the body against the viruses represented in the vaccine. When vaccinated, the immune system of the body produces a specific response, consisting of specific T cells and specific antibodies that fight off the infection when exposure to the virus […]
Medicinal interventions for influenza consist of two major approaches: the use of vaccines and antiviral drugs. Vaccines. The most cost-effective way to combat influenza is vaccination. Vaccines induce a specific immune response in the body by exposing it to an inactivated or weakened virus, or its relevant components. Influenza vaccines work best in healthy individuals […]