This is the theme of this year’s influenza campaign, which we are kicking off this week.  Your participation in this campaign will protect our most vulnerable patients from a potentially fatal flu infection.

Influenza season officially begins December 1 and lasts until March 31, and before the season starts, all staff must report whether they have received a flu shot or plan to wear a mask while at work during flu season. This is the fourth year the Influenza Control Program Policy has been in effect. Last year, the majority of you got the flu shot, 84%, a record so far for VCH, and the highest rate of all health authorities in BC. The remaining staff wore masks. Both of these options will protect our patients and clients, and we can help you find the option that works best for you.

The policy applies to all health authority staff (unionized and excluded), volunteers, students, casuals, contractors and physicians who have contact with patients, residents or clients in hospital, community or home care settings. Like last year, visitors also will be asked to adhere to this policy.

Marion Guenther vaccinates Dr. Patricia Daly for flu.

Report it: immunization or mask

We’ve changed the reporting process in light of your suggestions last year. This year, all staff and medical staff must report online, whether they get the flu shot or wear a mask. The reporting form has been improved this year too. It’s simpler to use, and staff and physicians working in more than one health authority only need to report once.

Have your employee id number and report here.

Anyone who reports their shot or mask online by December 1 will be entered to win a Fitbit!

Winning!

Get a few coworkers from your unit or team together and rewrite a verse or chorus of the song Kung Fu Fighting. Film your team singing it and send it to Tiffany.Akins@vch.ca (you may need to use Dropbox). Entries will be posted on the VCH Facebook page. The winning team will win a $200 gift card to have a celebration. Deadline is December 1.

Flu clinics

You can get your free flu shot through peer nurse immunizers (check with your manager), at a staff clinic, from your family doctor, pharmacist, or walk-in clinic. Masks will be available on the units for staff and visitors as of December 1.

More info

Visit the VCH staff flu page www.vch.ca/kung-flu to locate a clinic convenient for you, along with the policy and frequently asked questions. We welcome your questions; these can be sent to fluprevention@vch.ca.

We all work in health care for a reason and we have a responsibility to get immunized or wear a mask for that same reason: to care for the vulnerable. Thank you for your continued commitment to providing safe, high quality care to our patients, residents and clients.