Physicians, Medical Staff Get Flu Shots at TMA’s Fall Conference

One in three health care workers skips getting a seasonal flu vaccine, putting patients at risk for the flu and potential life-threatening complications, physicians say. To promote health care worker vaccination and improve patient safety, the Texas Medical Association (TMA) supported legislation that went into effect last month requiring that health care facilities have a policy that identifies the requirements for vaccination for each employee or anyone that comes into contact with patients in their facility.

TMA is doing its part to increase Texas’ health care worker vaccination rates. This weekend at the association’s annual fall conference in Austin, TMA established an on-site flu clinic where physicians, their family, and staff can get a flu shot or nasal spray flu vaccine at low cost.

Health care worker vaccination is a cornerstone of patient safety, says Erica Swegler, MD, family physician and chair of TMA’s Committee on Infectious Diseases. “Vaccinations are one of the most important parts of an infection control and prevention program. And, it is one of the most important actions we can take to keep ourselves healthy, and more importantly, to keep from making those around us sick.”