Srinagar, Nov. 20 -- "Patients in Kashmir hospitals are being put at risk as so many doctors, nurses and paramedical staff have not received swine flu vaccine," said Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on Wednesday in a communique.

"Medical staff imperil patients by snubbing flu shots," said DAK President and flu expert Dr Nisar-ul-Hassan.

"Unvaccinated staff have the potential to transmit flu to patients who are vulnerable to flu-related complications and death," he said.

Dr Nisar said during hospitalization, patients are 5-35 times more likely to acquire flu if exposed to infected healthcare workers.

"Patients entrust healthcare workers with their lives and clinicians should not be the ones to make them sick," he added.

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