As the cold and flu season approaches, the top health official in Kansas is urging all residents to get a flu shot to fight off another outbreak of the H1N1 virus.
Dr. Jason Eberhart-Phillips, state health officer for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, said the agency is following federal recommendations by urging all Kansas residents to get vaccinated, not just those with chronic or diminished health conditions.
"The guidance has been expanding every year," Eberhart-Phillips said. "There's going to be enough, so protect yourself, protect the ones around you."
KDHE is also making a push to get all health care workers vaccinated to help prevent the H1N1 virus, commonly known as swine flu, from spreading. Eberhart-Phillips said a new study shows that despite 12,000 deaths in the U.S. related to H1N1, only 37 percent of the nation's health care professionals said they got the vaccination.
He said the new KDHE campaign also will encourage residents to ask their physicians and nurses if they got a flu shot.
"It's a little edgy," Eberhart-Phillips said. "This is a critical patient-safety issue, a matter that goes to the heart of every health care professional's obligation to do no harm."
For the full story, go to dodgecitydailyglobe.ks.newsmemory.com.
|
|
|
As the cold and flu season approaches, the top health official in Kansas is urging all residents to get a flu shot to fight off another outbreak of the H1N1 virus.
Dr. Jason Eberhart-Phillips, state health officer for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, said the agency is following federal recommendations by urging all Kansas residents to get vaccinated, not just those with chronic or diminished health conditions.
"The guidance has been expanding every year," Eberhart-Phillips said. "There's going to be enough, so protect yourself, protect the ones around you."
KDHE is also making a push to get all health care workers vaccinated to help prevent the H1N1 virus, commonly known as swine flu, from spreading. Eberhart-Phillips said a new study shows that despite 12,000 deaths in the U.S. related to H1N1, only 37 percent of the nation's health care professionals said they got the vaccination.
He said the new KDHE campaign also will encourage residents to ask their physicians and nurses if they got a flu shot.
"It's a little edgy," Eberhart-Phillips said. "This is a critical patient-safety issue, a matter that goes to the heart of every health care professional's obligation to do no harm."
For the full story, go to dodgecitydailyglobe.ks.newsmemory.com.
