Nurses encouraged to receive annual influenza immunizations

Alberta Health funds a universal seasonal influenza immunization program. All Albertans 6 months of age and older who live, work, or go to school in this province are eligible for seasonal flu vaccine at no charge.

Alberta Health funds a universal seasonal influenza immunization program. All Albertans 6 months of age and older who live, work, or go to school in this province are eligible for seasonal flu vaccine at no charge.

Alberta Health Services recommends that all health care staff receive the seasonal influenza immunization annually. Although influenza immunizations are not mandatory for health care workers, United Nurses of Alberta encourages its members to receive their annual influenza immunization but respects their personal choice.

Workers in health care settings have a special role in the fight against influenza, as they are capable of transmitting influenza to those at high risk for severe influenza illness.

The National Advisory Committee on Immunization considers the provision of influenza immunization for health care workers who have direct patient contact or provide indirect health care services to be "an essential component of the standard care for the protection of patients.”

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