Immunizing workers who are in a position to transmit the virus to their very vulnerable patients further reduces the incidence among patients. So, while nurses and other health care workers protect their own health, and to some measure the health of their families, once immunized, they provide a large measure of protection to their patients. A very real benefit is also to lessen the impact of flu related absences in the institutions where they work, often at the very times when the patient census and acuity is rising sharply due to community wide outbreaks of the flu. The final priority level for receiving vaccine in the 2000-2001 flu season includes people in groups who are not at high risk for complications of the flu. These people are asked to voluntarily wait until those who are at higher levels of risk, their caregivers and family members are immunized.
Influenza vaccine becomes effective two weeks after it is received.
While we are accustomed to receiving flu shots early in the fall. Later dates for immunization programs should be effective for the majority in the lower risk groups. People in higher risk groups should receive the vaccine as soon as it becomes available.