Even though health care providers are advised to take flu shots, it has been reported that only half get inoculated in a typical flu season.

However, there has been a change this season. According to reports, by mid-January, 62% of health care workers had got themselves vaccinated against flu. Also, 37% have been vaccinated against the H1N1 swine flu. This has been reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A report published in the April 2 issue of the C. D. C. journal Morbidity and Mortality Weekly, states that only 34.7% of health care providers have received both vaccines.

These figures were obtained from a study conducted online. The study took into consideration a country wide representative group of 1,417 health care providers. The research was led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the RAND Corporation.

It has been reported that there was likelihood that a greater number of people working in hospitals had been vaccinated compared with those working in outpatient clinics, long-term care facilities or other facilities.

Statistics of the report reveal, 71% of hospital workers took the seasonal flu vaccine and half of these also got themselves vaccinated for H1N1.

Among those working in long-term-care facilities, 54% took the seasonal flu shot and a mere 20% took the swine flu vaccine.