Flu clinics and facts!
As December 2nd (official date of flu season) approaches we need to work together to increase our staff immunization rates for ourselves, our loved ones and our patients/clients/residents who look to us to create safe health care environments. We recognize that some staff do not agree with flu vaccination and we respect that, which is why masking is also an option for staff who choose not to or are unable to be vaccinated for medical reasons. But we also recognize that some staff have just not made a decision yet or have not had a chance to get their flu shot so we hope the following information will assist you with this.
More opportunities for flu immunization
If you have not yet been vaccinated there is still opportunity to do so. You can receive your flu shot at your local pharmacy, physician’s office or from a peer nurse immunizer.
Staff immunization clinics
In addition, during the regularly scheduled new staff immunization and TB testing clinics at VGH, Lions Gate Hospital and Richmond Hospital (week of November 25th and December 2nd) there will be additional nurses available to provide influenza vaccination for staff who have not yet been able to get their flu shot and/or do not have access to a Peer Nurse Immunizer in their work area. Here are the scheduled dates and times:
VGH
- Dates: Nov. 26, Nov. 28, Dec. 3 and Dec. 5
Time: 7:30 to 17:00
Location: VGH Diamond Center Courtyard, JPP Tower
Lions Gate Hospital
- Dates: Nov. 25 and Nov. 27
Time: 7:30 to 17:00
Location: Lobby in front of Dogwood Gift Shop
Richmond Hospital
- Dates: Dec. 2 and Dec. 4
Time: 7:30 to 17:00
Location: Front Lobby of Westminster Tower
*Note: Staff waiting for clinics scheduled the week of Dec 2nd will be required to wear a mask as of Dec 2nd until they are immunized
VCH flu locator
The flu locator includes local pharmacy and staff flu clinic information at select sites.These flu immunization clinics have now been added to our VCH flu locator: http://flushotschedule.ca/
We really appreciate you taking time from your busy schedule to get your flu shot and we hope the expanding Peer Nurse Immunizer program, immunizing local pharmacies and scheduled flu clinics make it more convenient for you to get a flu shot when it works for you.
Undecided on Vaccination?
Here’s some influenza facts that have been approved by our Medical Health Officers which may assist you in making a more informed decision on vaccination.
Flu Facts
1. Healthy adults may experience very mild symptoms from the flu and may not realize they are infectious to others. Even those who do get symptoms are infectious for 24 hours before the symptoms start.
2. Influenza vaccine is a very effective and safe intervention.
- Effectiveness varies by year (depending upon the match between the vaccine and the circulating strains of influenza viruses).
- Effectiveness also varies by age group of the vaccine recipient. In a good year, vaccine is 70-80 per cent effective in preventing influenza illness.
3. The flu policy is a provincial patient safety policy which all BC Health Authorities are implementing in order to protect our vulnerable patients/clients/residents from influenza and its complications.
4. The flu vaccine cannot make you sick.
- The injectable flu vaccine does not contain any live virus, so it cannot give you the flu
- After getting the flu shot, you may have a mild soreness in your arm where the injection was given and you might have a slight headache or feel achy all over. These symptoms are evidence that your body is responding to the flu vaccine and developing antibodies to fight the live flu viruses that you will come in contact with. These symptoms are easily managed by Tylenol or non-steroidal analgesics.
- There are other respiratory viruses that circulate during flu season that can cause symptoms similar to influenza, and people infected with these viruses may believe they have “the flu”. The flu vaccine cannot prevent infection with these other viruses.
5. The influenza virus usually begins circulating in December and continues until April.
6. Approximately 4,000 to 8,000 people die every year across Canada from complications due to the flu and pneumonia, and 90 per cent of those who die are seniors.
7. Getting a flu shot is the best way to protect yourself from the flu and giving it to others. Do you have aged parents, aunts, uncles or interact with anyone over 65 years old? Do you have grandchildren or interact with children under the age of two? All of these age groups are most at risk for serious complications from influenza.
8. Health care workers can be the source of influenza virus when infections spread to patients and clients in health care settings – unfortunately, some of these patients, particularly the frail elderly, don’t respond as well to the flu vaccine as healthy adults, so they can still be infected if vaccinated.
9. Based on current evidence, patient safety would be best ensured by requiring healthcare providers to be vaccinated if they provide care during periods of influenza activity. However, if healthcare workers are unvaccinated, wearing masks provides some degree of protection to their patients and is an acceptable alternative.
Why is it important?
Dr. Patty Daly, Chief Medical Health Officer explains why immunization is so important, “Unfortunately, influenza does not discriminate. Each year 10-15% of the population will be infected – and we can’t predict who those people might be. Whether you have had the flu before or not, you are at risk of the flu, because new strains of influenza appear each year, and a new vaccine created each year.”
Help us fight the flu by getting your flu shot or wearing a mask as of December 2nd –and please remember who we are doing this for and why. It’s more than a policy.
Questions?
Questions? Please email VCHHCWFluPrevention@vch.ca