ID Specialist Underscores Vital Role of Vaccination among Health Care Professionals this Flu Season at IDWeek 2023

Clinicians must remember the point of vaccines was not to prevent infection, but to decrease severity of illness, says infectious disease specialist Gopi Patel, MD.

This article is part of our IDWeek 2023 coverage. You can find all of our news here.

"A vaccinated and healthy workforce—including primary care providers and their staff—and vaccinated populations, helps to protect those who are more vulnerable," said Gopi Patel, MD, medical director of the Antimicrobial Stewardship Program at Mount Sinai Health System, to Patient Care Online at IDWeek 2023, held October 11-15 in Boston, MA.

Patient Care caught up with Dr Patel after her presentation titled “Respiratory Virus Infection Prevention and Management, From the Immunosuppressed Patient to the Healthcare Provider" during a symposium on infection prevention and immunocompromised hosts. In the presentation, Dr Patel discussed the role of health care professionals (HCPs) in the spread of respiratory viruses (eg, SARS-CoV-2, influenza) in the hospital setting. Topics included respiratory viruses in immunocompromised patients, the role of HCPs in nosocomial transmission, presenteeism among HCPs, the utilization of infection prevention measures (eg, masking, wearing personal protective equipment) during the COVID-19 pandemic, and vaccination among patients, caregivers, and clinicians.

Below, Dr Patel discusses the importance of vaccination among HCPs this respiratory virus season to help keep immunocompromised and other vulnerable patients safe.