EMPLOYEE EMPLOYEE INFLUENZA INFLUENZA VACCINATON VACCINATON

Influenza VaccinationInfluenza Vaccination

(Your institution) is committed to keep both its employees and patients safe

(Your institution) recognizes that influenza vaccination is the most effective way to prevent influenza infection among our patients and staff

(Your institution) wants you to make an informed decision about vaccination

JUST THE FACTSJUST THE FACTS

Seasonal Influenza accounts for roughly 226,000 hospitalizations and up to 50,000 deaths in the United States each year!

It is impossible to predict when the next influenza pandemic may arise or how severe it will be

Nationally among healthcare workers vaccination rates are only 50-60%

What Can I Do?What Can I Do?

Receiving the influenza vaccine is the most effective way to protect your patients, yourself, and your family

Like last year, the seasonal influenza vaccine will require only one vaccination which includes protection against the 2009 H1N1 strain

(Your Institution) is (Your Institution) is Committed to Protecting Committed to Protecting You, Your Family, & Your You, Your Family, & Your PatientsPatients(Your institution) offers free vaccines

to all employees

(Your institution)will vaccinate our health care workers and patients against seasonal influenza (now includes protection against 2009 H1N1) beginning September 28, 2011

Vaccination andVaccination and Patient Safety Patient Safety

Influenza outbreaks in hospitals have been attributed to low vaccination rates among health care workers

Up to 23% of unvaccinated healthcare workers may acquire influenza infection

The illness may be mild or subclinical, but can be transmitted to our very vulnerable patients

The CDC Recommends The CDC Recommends that that ALLALL Healthcare Healthcare Workers Receive the Workers Receive the Vaccine!Vaccine!

Impact of Employee Impact of Employee VaccinationVaccination

Influenza vaccination of healthcare workers has been associated with a 50% reduction in patient mortality in long term care facilities

Vaccinated health care workers have fewer missed days of work

Professional Ethics of Professional Ethics of Healthcare Workers to Healthcare Workers to Protect PatientsProtect Patients

Vaccination is a professional responsibility of working in healthcare

Safety of patients trumps personal choice

Obligated to “First do no harm”

Duty to protect the vulnerable (patients)

Must role model the medical importance of vaccination

(Your Institution) Policy(Your Institution) Policy

(Your institution) expects all healthcare workers to receive the influenza vaccine by November 10, 2011 unless there is a medical contraindication

If you have a medical contraindication, you must provide documentation from your provider or be evaluated by Employee Health Services

(Your Institution) Policy(Your Institution) PolicyIf you do not have a medical reason

not to be vaccinated, but still wish to decline the vaccine, you must do the following by November 10, 2011:◦Complete this on line educational module◦Complete one-on-one education

regarding the benefits of vaccination in order to protect our patients and staff

◦Sign a declination statement including the reason for declining the vaccine

Medical Medical ContraindicationsContraindicationsPeople with previous severe reactions to

influenza vaccination should be evaluated by their provider or employee health to determine whether they should receive the vaccine

Recent studies demonstrate that the injectable influenza vaccine is SAFE in most persons with minor egg allergy including hives

Vaccine should not be given to people with RARE anaphylaxis to eggs who experience lip or throat swelling and breathing difficulties

Will I get sick from the Will I get sick from the vaccine?vaccine?The injectable influenza vaccine is

inactivated and CANNOT cause the flu

Influenza vaccine may be associated with mild fever or local injection site reactions

During clinical studies these reactions occurred no more than placebo (injection of sugar water)

What about the preservatives in What about the preservatives in the vaccine?the vaccine?

Thimerosal is a preservative used in multi-dose vials of vaccine to prevent bacterial growth.

(Your institution if appropriate) uses only single-dose vials that do not contain thimerosal for our health care workers

There is NO scientific evidence linking thimerosal to neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism

What about the risk of Guillain-What about the risk of Guillain-Barre Syndrome?Barre Syndrome?

The estimated risk for Guillain-Barre Syndrome is approximately one additional case per 1 million persons vaccinated

The estimated risk of Guillian-Barre Syndrome is four to seven times higher following influenza infection than after vaccination

Please discuss your concerns with your health care provider or employee health

Instead of vaccination, can I Instead of vaccination, can I just take just take anti-viral medication (Tamiflu) anti-viral medication (Tamiflu) if I get sick?if I get sick? Antiviral medications do not take the place of

vaccination

Unvaccinated HCW may be infected without symptoms and risk transmitting influenza to vulnerable patients

Resistance to current anti-influenza medications continues to emerge, making them less effective for treatment and post-exposure prophylaxis

DO NOT rely on anti-viral medications such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu) to protect you or your family

People who should not receive People who should not receive the vaccinethe vaccinePeople who have documented severe

anaphylactic reaction to chicken eggs

People who developed Guillain-Barre Syndrome within 6 weeks of getting influenza vaccine in the past

Children less than 6 months of age

People who have moderate to severe illness with a fever (they should wait until they recover to get vaccinated)

If I don’t respond by If I don’t respond by November 10, 2011…November 10, 2011…

(Your insitution) staff who refuse to comply with the “vaccinate or decline” policy will be subject to corrective action.

What else can I do?What else can I do?

In addition to being vaccinated against influenza, remember these basic practices to help protect your patients and yourself:

• Wash your hands!

• Respiratory etiquette and “Cover your cough”

- Place a mask on patients presenting with cough

• Stay home if you have influenza-like illness: fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, chills and fatigue

Standard PrecautionsStandard PrecautionsIt is important to practice strict standard precautions when caring for ALL patients:

• Wash or gel hands before and after every patient contact

• Gloves for all procedures and contact withmucous membranes or bodily secretions

• Gowning when exposure to bodily fluids likely

• Masking with eye protection whenever performing cough-inducing or aerosol-generating procedures

If you have any further questions If you have any further questions please contact Employee Health please contact Employee Health ServiceService

Your contact information

ReferencesReferences

Prevention and Control of Influenza with Vaccines, Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), MMWR 59 (August 6, 2010)

Prevention and Control of Influenza with Vaccines: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), MMWR 60 (August 18, 2011)