Speaking of HCW who engage in behaviors you would think their work experience would turn them totally off to:
When I used to work at a large metropolitan hospital, I began to notice that a really big percentage of the folks smoking outside the building at the specially dedicated pavilion were respiratory therapists. Figure that one out for me.
Well at least they are smoking outside, but I’m surprised their employer allows them to smoke.
I remember when my pediatrician would have my mom come back to his office to go over my visit, so he could smoke. ( this was the '60’s)
That one I actually do understand because res therapy is an occupational training program frequently suggested by unemployment offices for dislocated workers. A prior neighbor had the choice of truck driving or respiratory therapy after being laid off from a job in an oilfield. He smoked. And, is now a smoking trucker. But he was very nearly a respiratory therapist smoker. I think he wanted the adventure of the open road.
I’m not positive, but I don’t believe employees are allowed to smoke anywhere on premises any more at that hospital.
" I and many others were fed aspirin as a kid and are none the worse for wear
And some got Reye’s syndrome and died. "
That is exactly my point. My son may have been harmed by improper administration of the polio vaccine when he was an infant, BUT the risk to him and others by getting the vaccine, even incorrectly in his case, is far outweighed by the risk of getting polio. We have members of our family who had polio, and it was WAY worse than any case of autism I have seen. Even in mild cases.
Note that even after that happened, and I believe he did suffer aphasia and other autism symptoms acutely after that, he STILL got all of his vaccinations as scheduled.
The problem isn’t understanding the science and medicine, it is really cost-benefit analysis where anti-vaxxers fall far short. As a PhD scientist, I do not dispute that vaccines can harm in rare cases. But also as a PhD scientist, I cannot dispute that the benefits, for the required vaccinations, outweigh the costs by far.
(this would be excluding the flu vaccine, which is still experimental in my opinion, especially considering this year’s fiasco)
@rhandco, how was this year’s flu vaccine a “fiasco”? I know it wasn’t nearly as effective as it should have been, but as far as I know, no one was injured by it. If I can get a shot that reduces my chance of getting the flu by 35% – which I think was what this year’s wound up being – I’d do it every time.
ETA: I just looked it up. The Google says the flu shot was effective 23% of the time this year. That’s pretty crappy, but I’d still get the shot.
I think doctors, etc that smoke are unfortunate to say the least. I request, when I’m in the hospital, to have non-smoking nurses and doctors when possible. I am very allergic to cigarettes and (no matter what people say) that stuff stays with you and I have broken out in hives just from being in contact with smokers.
With that said, tobacco use isn’t the same as not vaccinating IMO. Cigarettes are an addiction where the vast, VAST majority of people start early in life well before their medical careers. Not vaccinating is a routine choice you have to make every year. To me, the two aren’t comparable other than they’re both stupid and put other people in danger.
Also, and I completely understand that this will never happen because of the country that we live in, I wish all medical professionals would have to sign something saying that they will uphold best medical practices regardless of their individual beliefs. This would encompass getting vaccines and a host of other things that I won’t mention here due to politics.
Of course, “best medical practices” itself can be the subject of politics. Consider the uproar over the USPSTF’s most recent recommendations on screening for breast cancer and prostate cancer.
That comment re doctors and the flu vaccine is ten years old. And I’m sure is variable wrt region, clinic patient population, employer policy, etc.
Especially after the H1N1 season of 2009-11, I’d guess that the numbers are way up. That was a terrible year. Many healthcare workers and people in general started vaccinating more regularly after so many previously healthy young were sticken.
Two strains in this year’s vaccine are a match. The third strain is a 40% or so match. The numbers are more in the 40-60% in my reading. Some vaccinated people are getting ill but the hospitalization rate is 25% less for people with flu who were vaccinated. And going from my family (all faxed, both parents in the health care field) and my clinic group, the odds are still very much favoring the vaccine.
@jaylynn Do you have any evidence (anecdotal or otherwise) on whether the flu vaccine actually does “wear off” after only one year if the strains in the vaccine are the same as the strains in the previous year’s vaccine?
Even if the strains are the same, the CDC recommends a new dose for its boosting effects. For instance, the first time a child gets the vaccine, they need two doses. The next year, if they had two the previous year, they only need one from then on, so there is a boosting in effect. I know that doesn’t totally answer the question-- not sure the data is out there for general docs like me. 
I was surprised to read that 60% of Drs declined the flu vaccine. Im wondering if they are losing patients.
As I posted— that is some weird anecdotal snapshot (source? ten years old?) and I do not believe it’s true!!!
The study was from the CDC, but I now see that the article is 6 yrs old, I expect there is now greater compliance.
Re the flu vaccine “fiasco” - I’m not a doctor or a scientist, but as I understand it, the vaccine must be developed months ahead of flu season. It’s developed based on what they believe the strains will be. If the bug mutates after the vaccine is developed, then it’s not going to be as effective as it would be if the bug doesn’t mutate. I don’t see that as being a fiasco; just that this year the bug moved faster than the scientists could. If I had it to do over again, I’d still get my flu shot.
And imagine how it would be if nobody were vaccinated against any of the strains . . .
The doctors I’ve seen who don’t get flu shots have usually fallen into the "Oh, I never get sick " category. I have had to remind a number of docs, nurses, and MA’s that they may be infected and spreading flu without having obvious symptoms. But I can’t believe the number is close to 60%.
Oh, and apropos of doctors who smoke - I was absolutely floored when one of the best chest radiologists in my hospital told me that what convinced her to quit smoking was that she found out it could cause wrinkles.
Kristen Bell won’t let unvaccinated friends near her kids. Good for her.
(Don’t read the comments for your own sanity)
^ so, of course I had to read them.
I also touched the stove when my mom told me not to. 