CHS EMPLOYEE
INFLUENZA VACCINATION
Cottage Health System Commitment to keeping our
patients, employees and volunteers safe.
CHS Policy
Requires all employees and volunteers to either obtain the annual influenza vaccine by November 1st or sign a declination and wear a mask from November 1st to March 31st 2015 while at any CHS facility.
Or…
The mask will be worn regardless of reason for declination.
CHS Policy
A visual identifier will be used to assist in
monitoring compliance.
After November 1st , employees who have not
received the vaccine or signed the declination
will be in violation of the policy and subject to
corrective action.
After November 1st employees who have
signed the declination and observed not
wearing a mask except during their meal
break will be in violation of the policy and
subject to corrective action.
Why Get Vaccinated?
Influenza can be a serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and sometimes even death.
Anyone can get very sick from the flu, including people who are otherwise healthy.
You can get the flu from patients and coworkers who are sick with the flu.
If you get the flu, you can spread it to to others even if you don’t feel sick.
The flu vaccine is the single best prevention of the flu.
By getting vaccinated, you help protect yourself, your family at home, and your patients.
How Influenza Affected Us
Last Season Flu-related death is the 10th leading cause of death in Santa Barbara
County.
In California:
342 flu-related deaths.
750 non-fatal flu-related ICU admissions.
Majority of cases were adults aged 40-64 years old.
There were 3 flu-related deaths in Santa Barbara.
The flu vaccination reduced the risk of flu-related hospitalization by 72%.
95% of CHS employees and volunteers received the flu vaccine.
There was a decrease in staff absenteeism since implementation of policy.
Employee’s Role in Reducing
Flu Infections
Comply with the “Influenza Vaccination for
Employee Policy”.
Follow respiratory etiquette and “cover your
cough”.
Ask patients and visitors with respiratory
symptoms to wear a mask.
Stay home if you have influenza-like symptoms
such as fever, cough, sore throat, body aches,
chills, and fatigue.
Employee’s Role in Reducing
Flu Infections
Follow Standard Precautions:
Follow hand hygiene policy.
Wear appropriate personal protective
equipment:
Use gloves for contact with mucous
membranes or bodily secretions.
Use gowns when exposure to bodily fluids
is likely.
Use a mask with cough inducing or aerosol
generating procedures.
Impact of Flu on Health Care
Facilities
Up to ¼ of Health Care Employees
contract influenza each season.
A CDC hospital survey conducted during
flu season showed the following:
35% reported staffing shortages.
28% reported bed shortages.
43% reported ICU shortages.
9% reported diversion of patients to other
facilities.
What Else Do You Need to
Know?
I don’t need to
know more…I already
got the vaccine or
am going to get it.
Background on
Influenza Vaccination
Policy & Why Is Getting
Vaccinated Important?
FAQ’s
Where Did We
Get Our Information &
Who to Contact
With Questions?
What is
Influenza?
Click on the box of your choice
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the vaccine contain preservatives?
Will the vaccine make me sick?
I am healthy and never get sick.
What if I don’t get the flu vaccine?
If I sign the declination do I need to wear a mask?
What about antiviral medication like Tamiflu?
Who should not receive the vaccine?
What about Guillain-Barre Syndrome?
I have a documented severe allergy to chicken eggs.
How do I know if I have a cold or the fu?
Should I still get vaccinated even if I have already gotten sick with the flu?
How effective is the flu vaccine?
How do flu vaccines work?
Should I get vaccinated if I’m immunocompromised or have a chronic health condition?
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Click on any of the below questions to seethe response.
How Do Flu Vaccines Work?
Flu vaccines cause antibodies to develop in the body about two weeks after vaccination.
These antibodies provide protection against infection with the viruses that are in the vaccine.
The seasonal flu vaccine protects against influenza viruses that will be most common during the upcoming season.
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Should I Still Get Vaccinated
Even if I Have Already Gotten
Sick with the Flu?
Yes.
It is possible that your illness was not caused by an influenza virus.
Even if you were sick with one influenza virus, the seasonal flu vaccine protects against the most common flu viruses.
The vaccine can offer protection against other influenza viruses that you haven’t been exposed to yet.
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Do I Need to Wear a Mask if I Sign
the Declination?
Yes.
You will need to wear the mask from
November 1st 2014 to March 31st
2015.
If you receive the vaccination after
that period you won’t need to wear
the mask any longer.
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Does the Vaccine Contain
Preservatives?
No, CHS is using
preservative and thimerosal
free vaccinations for all
employees.
Thimerosal is a preservative
included in multidose vials of
vaccine to prevent bacterial
growth.
There is no scientific
evidence linking thimerosal to
neurodevelopmental
disorders such as autism.
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The influenza vaccine is very safe.
The injectable vaccine is not a live virus.
The injectable influenza vaccine is inactivated and cannot cause the flu.
The vaccine may be associated with mild fever or local injection site reactions.
Studies show these reactions occur no more than with a placebo.
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Will the Vaccine Make Me
Sick?
I Am Healthy and Never Get
Sick There is a difference between getting sick with the flu,
and carrying the virus.
Many people with strong immune systems may become infected, and successfully fight off the infection without ever becoming any sicker than having a mild cold. But, they are still spreading the virus.
The influenza virus can have serious consequences –even for people who have no risk factors.
The average annual burden of seasonal influenza among healthy adults estimates to include:
5 million illnesses.
2.4 million outpatient hospital visits.
32,000 hospitalizations.
680 deaths.
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What if I Don’t Get the Flu
Vaccine?
You still need to sign a declination.
If you have not signed the declination or gotten the flu vaccination by November 1st, you are in violation of the policy and subject to corrective action.
After signing the declination, you are required to wear a mask while at any CHS facility from November 1st to March 31st.
The mask must be worn at all times, except while eating or drinking.
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How Effective is the Flu
Vaccine?
The flu vaccine is the best protection against the flu.
If you get the flu vaccine, you are 60% less likely to need treatment for the flu by a healthcare provider.
The vaccine reduces illness, antibiotic use, time lost from work, hospitalizations, and deaths.
Protects you and your patients from H1N1, Influenza A, and Influenza B viruses.
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What About Antiviral
Medications like Tamiflu?
Antiviral medications do not
take the place of vaccination.
Resistance can develop to
current anti-influenza
medications making them
less effective for treatment.
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Children under 6 months old.
People who have a moderate to severe illness with a fever (wait until recovered to get vaccination).
Women in their 1st trimester of pregnancy.
People who have developed Guillain-Barre syndrome within 6 weeks of getting the influenza vaccine in the past.
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Who Should Not Receive the
Flu Vaccine?
An acute form of polyneuritis, often preceded by a respiratory infection, sometimes causing weakness or paralysis of the limbs.
The estimated risk for Guillain-Barre syndrome is approximately 1 additional case per 1 million people vaccinated.
The link to Guillain-Barre Syndrome is doubtful. Many studies have found no link.
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What About Guillain-Barre
Syndrome?
For the 2014-2015
season the trivalent flu
vaccine offered to
employees is egg-free.
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I Have a Documented Severe
Allergy to Eggs
Should I Still Get the Flu Vaccine if I’m
Immunocompromised or have a Chronic
Health Condition?
Yes.
Healthcare workers in these
groups can benefit from
influenza vaccination as they
are at greater risk of severe
influenza illness and
complications.
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The flu causes up to 49,000 deaths annually. Last season, there were 342 confirmed flu
deaths reported in California, 3 of which were in Santa Barbara.
8th leading cause of death in U.S.
Seasonal influenza accounts for roughly 225,000 hospitalizations a year.
The single best way to prevent the flu is to get vaccinated.
Influenza vaccination prevented 79,000 hospitalizations and 6.6 million illnesses last season
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Influenza Facts
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A person is able to spread the
virus up to 1-2 days before onset
of symptoms and 5-7 days after
becoming sick
The flu is spread when a person
with the flu coughs, sneezes, or
talks and droplets containing their
germs land in your nose or mouth.
The droplets can also
contaminate surfaces that people
touch.
Influenza Facts
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When Few People are
Immunized…
…Disease is Free to Spread
Through the Population
Resources & Contacts
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/
http://www.countyofsb.org/phd/iz.aspx?=22032
http://flu.oregon.gov/articles/Pages/HCWResources.aspx
http://www.cdph.ca.gov
http://www.flu.gov
http://www.co.linn.or.us/health/public_health/immunizations.htm
Employee Health & Safety Ext # 58270
Infection Control Ext # 57204
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Background
Joint Commission 2020 Flu Vaccine Goal
90% of Health Care Provider (HCP) nationwide receive the flu vaccination.
Agencies strongly support HCP influenza vaccination
CDC: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
APIC: Association for Professional Infection Control
HICPAC: Hospital Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee
SHEA: Society For Healthcare Epidemiology
IDSA: Infectious Disease Society of America
ACIP: Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices
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Background
California Public Health
Supports mandatory vaccination or
masking for HCP in hospitals.
Santa Barbara County Public Health
Endorses vaccination or masking of HCP
in Santa Barbara County in support of the
California Public Health Initiative.
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Background
Other endorsements:
Society for Healthcare Epidemiology
Ethics Committee of American Medical Association
Infectious Disease Society of America
American Academy of Pediatrics
National Patient Safety Foundation
Department of Defense
American College of Physicians
American Hospital Association
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Background
Nearly 100% of hospitals in the Tri-County area have a Mandatory Influenza Vaccination or Masking Policy:
Arroyo Grande Community Hospital: Arroyo Grande
French Hospital Medical Center: San Luis Obispo
Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center: San Luis Obispo
Twin Cities Community Hospital: Templeton
Marian Medical Center: Santa Maria
Community Memorial Hospital: Ventura
Los Robles Hospital & Medical Center: Thousand Oaks
Santa Paula Hospital: Santa Paula
St. John’s Pleasant Valley Hospital: Camarillo
St. John’s Regional Medical Center: Oxnard
Ventura County Medical Center: Ventura
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How Do I know if I Have a Cold
or the Flu?
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Symptoms Cold Flu
Fever Rare Usual. Can be high.
Chills Rare Usual.
Muscle Aches and Pains Mild, if any. Usual, often severe. Affects body all over.
Headache Rare. Usual.
Feeling Tired and Weak Mild, if any. Usual, often severe. Makes you want to stay in bed.
Coughing Mild to moderate hacking. Usual. Can become severe.
Sneezing Common Sometimes
Stuffy Nose Common Sometimes
Sore Throat Common Sometimes
How Do I Get The Vaccine?
This month’s clinics:
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Read our weekly emails.
Ask your manager.
Call EH&S – (805) 569-8270.