Medical students are not getting proper vaccinations

While all sexually active people have a risk of developing a sexually transmitted disease (STD), healthcare professionals have an increased chance of contracting these infections due to their exposure to blood-borne pathogens. Most people can help protect themselves against these conditions by practicing safer sex, but medical personnel come in contact with infected blood just by performing their jobs. 

Recenty, TheClinicalAdvisor.com reported on a study published in the journal Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology which found that many medical students are not getting vaccinated for hepatitis B, despite their increased risk of contracting the disease.

Only 58 percent of students surveyed had proper documentation showing they had been fully vaccinated for hepatitis B. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are many ways for medical professionals to contract an STD while working.

"Healthcare workers, emergency response and public safety personnel, and other workers can be exposed to blood through needlestick and other sharps injuries, mucous membrane, and skin exposures," states the CDC.