This winter in Sheba Medical Center, patients will be able to know immediately if their physician or nurse have been vaccinated against the flu. The hospital is handing out green and yellow badges that say “I was also vaccinated against the flu” for doctors and nurses to attach to their ID badges towards keeping patients informed.

The program has two purposes, officials explain; to increase the number of staff members who are vaccinated from 30% to 60% and to increase awareness among patients and visitors so they too get vaccinated. The hospital explains that if a doctor or nurse were not vaccinated, patients will have the right to request the treating physician or nurse to wear a mask.

Dr. Debbie Ben-David who heads the infectious diseases unit in the hospital explains “medical staff who are not vaccinated may possible be contagious to others, including their patients even if they regard themselves as healthy”.

Dr. Ben-David explains the hospital staff, the entire staff, is committed to getting vaccinated against the flu this year.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)