Educating Health Care Professionals: Do You Know the Flu?
The National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) joined Families Fighting Flu and Healthy Women to urge healthcare professionals to understand the influential role they have in flu prevention by proactively recommending an annual flu vaccination to patients to help protect against this serious and potentially deadly disease. Through this collaboration, Do You Know the Flu?, the organizations aim to arm and educate healthcare professionals to better understand how they have a profound and real impact on a person’s decision to receive an annual flu vaccination.
The flu is often overlooked or misunderstood as a disease that is slightly worse than the common cold; however, it poses serious risks for everyone, including healthy people. Children, even those who are healthy, are uniquely vulnerable because they are at a higher risk of developing complications from the flu, including hospitalization and even death.i By making a strong recommendation to patients, and particularly parents, about the significant benefits of an annual flu vaccination for the entire family, healthcare professionals have the ability to directly and positively impact vaccination rates.ii
The Do You Know the Flu e-toolkit for healthcare professionals serves as a comprehensive resource on flu, including a firsthand perspective from a pediatric nurse practitioner about flu vaccination, personal stories of families significantly impacted by the flu, flu vaccination conversation talking points for healthcare professionals, flu facts and statistics, and educational materials to share with patients.
iCenters for Disease Control and Prevention. Flu Symptoms & Complications. Accessed October 13, 2017.
iiCenters for Disease Control and Prevention. Make a Strong Flu Vaccine Recommendation. Accessed October 6, 2017.
