Tyra Bryant-Stephens, MD

Director, Community Asthma Prevention Program, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Tyra Bryant-Stephens, MD, knows how dangerous influenza can be to children with asthma and other respiratory problems. She is the founder of the Community Asthma Prevention Program at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Every year, she sees how influenza can exacerbate the health problems of her already ill, young patients. She also knows how critical it is that she and other health-care professionals get immunized to protect their vulnerable patients.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends yearly vaccination for all health-care workers.¹ Research shows that health-care workers can spread the highly contagious influenza virus to patients in their care.¹

There may be a misperception that health-care workers have already been exposed to many infectious diseases, and therefore don't need to worry about getting the influenza vaccine. But Dr. Bryant-Stephens has seen firsthand the havoc an influenza outbreak can cause for medical office staff and the patients it serves.

“Hospitals, primary care practices and intensive care units need to continue to work harder to raise vaccination levels for all staff to protect their own health, but, more importantly, their patients' health.”