Many Doctors Push Flu Vaccine, Don't Get it Themselves

As the United States enters the winter season, it is very likely that a bulk of U.S. citizens haven't gotten the flu vaccination to protect themselves against the influenza virus. According to ABC News, many of those people are the doctors and nurses telling us to get the vaccine in the first place. During the 2006-07 flu season, only 40 percent of health care practitioners got the vaccine.

According to the CDC, one in five Americans get the flu every year and of these, 200,000 are hospitalized, while 36,000 die. With those kind of statistics, it is understandable why some people are upset that the doctors and nurses taking care of them are susceptible to the same disease.

Many excuses made by professionals are that they are too busy, that they dislike needles or that getting vaccinated is "inconvenient." Though these reasons are inexcusable for someone in the health profession, the CDC does list reasons why people can opt not to receive the vaccine:

People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs.

People who have had a severe reaction to an influenza vaccination.

People who developed Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) within 6 weeks of getting an influenza vaccine.

Children less than 6 months of age (influenza vaccine is not approved for this age group.)

People who have a moderate-to-severe illness with a fever (they should wait until they recover to get vaccinated.)

Receiving the vaccine as soon as it is available is usually recommended for optimum protection. However, since flu activity often continues through May, getting the vaccine later (December or January) will still offer protection.

Besides receiving the flu vaccine, there are many other ways to take precautions against the flu. Though a fairly obvious safety measure, washing your hands or using hand sanitizer regularly is still something that many people need to be reminded to do. Hand sanitizer should not replace hand washing, but should be used whenever a sink is not handy or whenever you (or someone around you) sneezes or coughs.

The proper way to sneeze or cough is not to cover your mouth with your hands. When sneezing or coughing, cover your nose and mouth with your elbow instead of your hand to prevent the spread of germs.

Cleaning your workstation regularly is also important. Wipe down your workstation with antibacterial wipes before and after you work.

Using a humidifier and/or saline nasal spray will keep the mucous membranes in your nose moist and therefore, prepared to trap invading viruses. The flu virus can also stay airborne longer in dry air. When the air is kept moist, water droplets will attach themselves to the virus particles and send them downward.

Avoid shaking hands, due to the fact that hand-to-hand contact is one of the fastest ways to spread the flu virus. Don't touch your nose and eyes and don't put your hands in your mouth. Our hands are always picking up germs and touching any of these areas can allow viruses into your body.

Radha Chitale, Docs Talk the Talk, But Do They Take the Shot?, ABC News

Joseph Brownstein, 10 Ways to Stay Flu-Free, ABC News

Key Facts About Seasonal Flu Vaccine, CDC