Vaccine refusal by doctors and nurses increases worldwide

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According to a study published online by the British Medical Journal, more than half of healthcare workers surveyed in Hong Kong said they would refuse to be vaccinated against swine flu because of a fear of side effects and doubts as to efficacy.

Additionally, GP newspaper, a weekly newspaper for UK family doctors, conducted a survey of UK physicians regarding the swine flu vaccine and found that up to 60% of GPs may choose not to be vaccinated against swine flu, with many concerned about the safety of the vaccine.

The Daily Mail reported that a week ago, a poll of nurses showed that a third would turn down the opportunity of being vaccinated against swine flu. The Mail also claimed a poll of doctors for Pulse magazine found that 49 per cent would reject the vaccine with 9 per cent undecided.

Richard Hoey, editor of Pulse, said: 'The medical profession has yet to be convinced by the Government's whole approach to swine flu, with most GPs now feeling that the Department of Health overreacted in its policy on blanket use of Tamiflu. Inevitably, that has coloured feelings about the planned immunisation campaign. The view among many doctors is that the Government hasn't yet made its case for why such a huge vaccination program needs to be rushed in for what seems to be an unusually mild illness."

Health officials in Japan have recommended against prescribing Tamiflu to teenagers over fears it causes a rise in “neuropsychiatric events”. The researchers said that clinical trials had shown that about 20 per cent of adults reported side-effects of either nausea or vomiting after taking Tamiflu.

There are also concerns regarding cases of Guillain Barre Syndrome, which can lead to paralysis and even death. A mass swine flu vaccination programme in the U.S. in 1976 caused far more deaths than the disease it was designed to combat, and Britain's Health Protection Agency watchdog has asked doctors to look out for cases of GBS when the vaccinations begin.

According to Dr. Mercola, who publishes a natural health news letter, "[Tamiflu]...is part of a group of anti-influenza drugs called neuraminidase inhibitors, which work by blocking a viral enzyme that helps the influenza virus to invade cells in your respiratory tract. Serious side effects include convulsions, delirium or delusions, and 14 deaths in children and teens have been reported as a result of neuropsychiatric problems and brain infections. Japan actually banned Tamiflu for children in 2007 because of the steep risks. It was also around this time that the U.S. FDA began reviewing reports of abnormal behavior and other brain effects in more than 1,800 children who had taken Tamiflu.

AFP reports 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. Participants were questioned first in early 2009, when the WHO influenza pandemic alert was at level 3, and again in May, when level had just be raised to 5. Results were virtually the same both times, with only 47 and 48 percent saying they would get vaccinated.