Many healthcare workers say 'no' to vaccine: Study

More than half of health-care workers surveyed in Hong Kong said they would refuse to be vaccinated against swine flu, according to a study released today.

Fear of side effects and doubts as to efficacy were the two main reasons cited, said the study, published online by the British Medical Journal (BMJ).

The Hong Kong survey echoes a recent sounding of 1,500 nurses in Britain, 30 per cent of whom also said they would not allow themselves to be jabbed.

Vaccinating health workers to protect essential health infrastructure is the cornerstone of virtually all international and national plans for coping with the swine flu virus.

If doctors and nurses are sick as the pandemic peaks, it could wreak havoc on health care systems, experts warn.

The European Union, following guidelines laid out by the World Health Organisation (WHO), yesterday said health workers should be vaccinated first, along with pregnant women and persons with underlying chronic conditions.

US health authorities have outlined similar priorities.

The reluctance of Hong Kong health professionals to be vaccinated is surprising, the authors say.

A team of researchers led by Paul Chan from the Chinese University of Hong Kong surveyed over 8,500 doctors, nurses, and other health professionals working at 31 hospital departments in Hong Kong.