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Remember to get your flu shot!

• Article: Influenza Vaccination Rates for Nurses Need a Boost (.pdf format; Adobe Acrobat Reader required)

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), only 40% of healthcare professionals are vaccinated against seasonal influenza each year. This is surprising because healthcare professionals -- and nurses in particular -- are key to educating the public about preventing the spread of influenza, a debilitating and highly contagious respiratory infection. "Flu" leads to an average of 200,000 hospitalizations and 36,000 deaths in the U.S. each year.

Because of their frequent contact with patients, nurses can spread the influenza virus to patients in their care before they have any symptoms themselves. The virus also can be spread to colleagues, resulting in more sick days and more problems related to understaffing and mandatory overtime.

See the attached article for more information on influenza and the vaccine. Educational materials also are available at the CDC's Flu Gallery Web site.

With more than 34,000 members, NYSNA is the oldest and largest state nurses’ association in the nation. It is an influential union for RNs, representing nurses in New York and New Jersey. Offering a wide range of services to its members, NYSNA fosters high standards of nursing education and practice and works to advance the profession through legislative activity. It is a constituent of the American Nurses Association and of the United American Nurses, an affiliate of the AFL-CIO.