New influenza control policy for staff
Each year, influenza affects five to 10 per cent of the population and kills thousands of Canadians, most of them vulnerable seniors. Residents of long term care facilities and patients in acute care hospitals are among those most at risk.
We also know that influenza can be transmitted in healthcare settings, including between staff and patients. Evidence shows that vaccination is the most effective way of preventing infection with influenza. This is especially important for staff in health care settings because the elderly and those with underlying chronic disease do not respond as well to the influenza vaccine.
Thankfully, thousands of VCH staff have a flu shot every year. Unfortunately, many do not. While we sincerely thank all who do for their commitment to patient safety, it is clear that we need to do more to make our health care facilities even safer. It is time to significantly reduce the risk of transmitting influenza from staff to patients in our sites altogether.
Acting on the advice and support of Dr. Perry Kendall, BC’s Provincial Health Officer, and after a review of the evidence, this year all British Columbia health authorities will be taking steps to further protect vulnerable patients from influenza. All health authority staff (unionized and excluded), volunteers, students, contractors and physicians who have contact with patients will be asked to wear masks if they have not been immunized. More
Because evidence shows that people can be infectious and transmitting the flu for 24 hours before they become symptomatic, it is essential to get your flu shot early to protect you and others from infection. That’s why there will be many opportunities for you to get your flu shot once the vaccination campaign begins in the fall. You can be vaccinated at community pharmacies, by your family physician, at workplace clinics and at public health centres. We will provide you with more detailed information in the coming weeks but rest assured that we will make it as easy as possible for you to not only get your flu shot, but to report to us that you have received it.
Of course, we understand that some people cannot get a flu shot for medical reasons. That is why the policy clearly states that unvaccinated staff must wear a mask while at work at all times during the flu season to reduce the risk of transmission.
We know that our staff is totally committed to providing the highest level of safe, quality care to our communities. By getting a flu shot, not only will you help to protect our vulnerable patients and clients, but you will also protect yourself and your loved ones.
Getting a flu shot is not just something we must do, it is the right thing to do.
Related links:
- VCH Influenza Control Policy
- Immunize BC
- Blog post by Dr. Patricia Daly, Chief Medical Health Officer -VCH
Cecile Lo
Educate yourself regarding the recent published article on CBC news regarding ;
Flu shot linked to higher incidence of flu in pandemic year
Vaccine-related phenomenon during pandemic once deemed a ‘Canadian problem’
The Canadian Press Posted: Sep 10, 2012 5:11 AM PT Last Updated: Sep 10, 2012 9:55 AM PT
Go to website below to read article and decide for yourself.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2012/09/10/flu-shot-pandemic.html?cmp=rss
Maureen McCann
I have great concerns as to my getting the flu shot again this year. I had the flu shot for 6 years in a row and last year I received my flu shot. in November I became ill for the next 4.5 months. Everything about my health had changed. I really never took days off for illness and now I had to. I thought at first that I had obtained some kind of allergy, so I changed everything I ate. I thought possibly it was dairy so I stopped eating yogurt every day as I had in the past. I stopped eating most dairy products to see if this was the cause. I know that I do have an allergy to eggs and I was concerned that possibly there was egg content in the vaccine as I know that there has been in the past. I was told there was no egg content. I could barely eat anything without having to rush to a washroom unexpectedly which isn’t always available and it was horrible. I had diarrhea for all those months every time I ate anything. Finally in the middle of March I became normal again. I have continued to eat all dairy products and everything else that I had cut out of my diet and have not had a problem since. I am totally against receiving the Flu Shot this year. I had to use my sick hours to cover me for the days that I couldn’t make it in to work. The days I did make it in were very uncomfortable for me. I had thought that my way of life had changed for me after that flu shot and it was very depressing. I will not get the flu shot this year as I will not take the chance of becoming sick because of it and spending 4.5 months of my life feeling as horrid as I did. T
g bright
As to the benefits , we have to ask: is the treatment effective? The answer is not very. The strains in the vaccines don’t match the actual viruses. CDC says last year’s flu shot matched 40% of the years flu viruses! While everyone has to make their own decision, I can tell you personally I do not take flu shots because I have serious reservations about the long-term neurological effects. Just because you get the flu shot does not mean you wont get the flu! This is so bogus! Can’t you see that? IMMUNIZE YOURSELF AGAINST WINTER FLU – VITAMIN C ,A ,D, and Zinc boost your immunity the NATURAL way. If you get sick or begin to feel ill use OSCILLOCOCCINUM or BLACK ELDERBERRY EXTRACT. IF YOU GET THE FLU IT WON’T BE AS BAD AND YOU WILL HAVE A LIFETIME OF IMMUNITY (and not some weakened strain in a flu vaccine, which you need every year). Is that not the goal of immunization in the first place?
Catherine Masters
Please ensure that there are sufficient on-site clinics for healthcare workers; those of us on shift work with variable days off have found the part-day immunization schedules provide a very limited number of days; a factor in not being able to easily get the flu shot.
Catherine Fast
Thanks for your comment Catherine. We try hard to cover all shifts including nights and weekends but it can be a challenge. If we miss you, flu shots are available free for all healthcare workers at any public health clinic, your physician’s office and many pharmacies. We will be providing information about where flu shots are available and making it easy for you to report your immunization if you aren’t able to attend a VCH clinic. We are also keen to recruit Peer Nurse Immunizers so if you or someone on your unit is interested please encourage them to speak to your manager.
Constance Roy
I like this comprehensive policy. I have only been here 4 years. When I started I was told that those VCH staff who choose not to be vaccinated and who subsequently came down with influenza would not be paid for their sick hours. I do not see this in this policy, but I still ask the question – if one, despite wearing a mask per protocol, becomes ill, will that employee be entitled to the usual sick leave? Having asked that, I think immunization is the best thing to have happened since clean water and great sewage systems. I will always be immunized! Thanks for all you do.
Constance Roy RN CNCC(C)
Powell River
Catherine Fast
Constance
I’m glad you get your flu shot. Your information about the policy that applies in the event of a declared Influenza outbreak is not quite correct. Whether or not you get immunized if you are infectious we don’t want you to come to work and you would be entitled to draw on your sick bank to cover those days. What is true is there has been for some time a provincial policy that applies in the event of a declared Influenza outbreak. In that eventuality staff who are not immunized are expected to take Tamiflu. If they are unwilling or unable to do so they may be excluded from work without pay if we are unable to deploy them to another unit where there is no such declared outbreak.
g bright
Like who will I expose if all have the flu shot and it’s just the flu? I will wear the mask rather than expose myself to poison. Lets see; in a four-month flu season I will use about $1000 in masks and have to take about 10 sick days due to heat rashes and sore ears from the mask. Really saving money now hey?