Staff flu clinics extended to December 13
Dr. David Ostrow receives his flu shot.
The official start of the influenza season is this Saturday December 1, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank those VCH staff, physicians, students and volunteers who have already had their flu shot.
Record vaccination rates
This year, VCH Workplace Health has vaccinated more people than in any previous influenza season. This will go a long way in protecting the health and safety of our patients, residents, clients, fellow staff members and our families.
For those who have not yet been immunized, there are still plenty of opportunities.
Staff clinics extended to December 13
VCH Workplace Health has extended the staff flu clinics to December 13. Use the Staff Flu Clinic Locator or visit http://www.health.gov.bc.ca/flu/ for the location of the nearest pharmacies and community clinics offering free flu shots.
If you attend a VCH clinic your immunization record will be recorded by Workplace Health. If you are immunized at a pharmacy, physician’s office, or at another health authority please report this using our online form or calling 1-855-358-3580 from 8:00 am to 4 pm Monday to Friday so we can be sure to have this record. Physicians can report their vaccinations to the same number.
Thank you for your commitment to this important patient safety initiative.
Dr. David Ostrow
President and CEO
Paul
Patricia Daly’s comment on December 4th appears to contradict what the Deputy Minister Graham Whitmarsh wrote in his letter to the Health Authority Chief Executive Officers on November 30th, 2012.
Patricia Daley writes,
“Managers will continue to educate staff about the policy and remind unvaccinated staff that they should be wearing a mask while at work during flu season, which began on December 1. Managers will also monitor staff compliance.”
Deputy Minister Graham Whitmarsh writes in his letter,
” However, over the coming few months, the Ministry of Health (the Ministry) will be engaging in additional consultation with both impacted unions and impacted excluded groups to best determine a comprehensive approach to full-scale implementation of the policy. Therefore, in the first year, the enforcement components of the policy will be in abeyance, and non-compliant staff are not to be disciplined.”
Monitoring staff compliance as Patricia Daley writes is in effect, disciplinary action and contradicts what Graham Whitmarsh wrote in his letter which was that that non-compliant staff would not be disciplined.
Patricia Daly
There seems to be some confusion about the Health Care Worker Influenza Policy; to clarify, the policy has NOT changed. Staff who choose not to have a flu shot are still expected to wear a procedural mask while working in patient care areas. The only change, announced on Friday November 30, is that staff who refuse to comply with the policy will not face disciplinary actions during this first year of the policy.
Managers will continue to educate staff about the policy and remind unvaccinated staff that they should be wearing a mask while at work during flu season, which began on December 1. Managers will also monitor staff compliance. My hope is that compliance will be high, because staff and physicians understand that this policy is in place for the safety of our patients and clients. We have already seen VCH staff influenza vaccination rates higher than in any previous year, and flu shots are still available.
Regarding the question about gloves; gloves are neither required nor recommended when giving vaccinations. Staff at vaccination clinics should perform appropriate hand hygiene between clients, as was done at the clinic attended by Dr. Ostrow. Use of gloves can make this more awkward, as gloves would need to be changed between each client, and hand hygiene performed before and afterwards. Gloves are not a substitute for appropriate hand hygiene.
curious
I do not know if different people are reading different things about vaccinations, but after a lot of research over a lot of years, it seems clear to me that the jury is still out regarding the safety and benefit of the yearly flu shot, as well as many of the other vaccinations.
For example, did anyone read a statistic that I read about the gardasil shot – that 119 have died of this shot so far, and many more left severely sick, or paralyzed.
Why such a push towards mass vaccinations???
Sylta
Can we please have some clear direction on whether staff are still expected to wear a mask if they choose not to have the flu shot? What is the current VCH policy? I have heard there is a moratorium on the mask directive from the MOH for this year, but I have not heard an official statement from VCH, and all of the mask info remains up on the intranet under the Influenza program. Many thanks for providing clear guidance on this hot topic.
Heather
Hi,
I agree. VCH news should submit a statement clarifying the new policy which states employees do not have to wear the mask if they do not get a flu shot. The policy still states employees need to wear a mask and this info is incorrect.
Thanks.
Editor
Just want to clarify that VCH News is not the source of this information, but provides this forum for questions and discussion. The appropriate department or individual with the information you are seeking would need to submit the information here, or submit it to the VCH News e-Newsletter to be shared with all staff. If information clarifying the application of the policy is submitted to VCH News, it will be shared.
Heather
When will VCH update their news to reflect the new policy which states staff who have not recieved their shot DO NOT have to wear a mask?
g bright
Its a civil rights issue ! Now everyone knows my private medical history .
Anyway to each their own , I will wear my mask proudly .
This video explains the Kool-Aid I,m drinking
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UioC6ARoLEM
I. Brodkin
Based on the photo in the article, is the use of gloves no longer recommended as good as safe practice when administering injections?… I find it puzzling that Dr. Ostrow, the receipient of the injection in the photo, would endorse such a bare-handed approach by his care provider when so much emphasis is placed on the infectious diease control at VGH.
Patricia Daly
All VCH physicians, medical students and medical residents must comply with the health care worker influenza policy and either get a flu vaccination or wear a mask while working in all health care facilities that are owned and operated or funded by VCH. The same applies in all health authorities in BC. The policy for physicians is identical to the policy for VCH staff. Vaccination is not mandatory for anyone.
Ruth Chesson
If flu prevention is so important then why is it that doctors are not required to get the shot?