Flu Information for Healthcare Workers

The CDC is encouraging healthcare workers to get vaccinated for flu each year. The current vaccine protects against three influenza viruses that will be most common this season: Influenza A (H1N1) virus, Influenza A (H3N2) virus, and Influenza B virus. DMC employees need to get the flu vaccination as soon as it is available in early fall for optimal protection.

GETTING VACCINATED EARLY IS IMPORTANT FOR HEALTHCARE WORKERS - It takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body.

Consistent with VHS policy and our commitment to patient safety, the DMC requires that all DMC employees, medical staff, volunteers and students working in hospitals and other DMC facilities are annually vaccinated against influenza ("the flu").

This policy is designed foremost to PROTECT OUR PATIENTS. Additionally, this fulfills CDC, The Joint Commission, other regulatory agency and national professional society patient safety recommendations. We also benefit because this will help to protect us and our families from influenza illness.

  • According to the CDC, influenza is a serious disease that hospitalizes 100-200,000 and kills 20-30,000 persons per year.
  • Hospital patients are at risk for serious, even fatal, complications if exposed to healthcare workers with the flu.
  • Flu can be spread even the day before symptoms become apparent.
  • The flu vaccine is effective and safe.
  • Serious side effects are rare; not being vaccinated is a far greater risk.

The flu vaccine will be provided at no cost to DMC employees, medical staff, students and volunteers through mass vaccination clinics, roving/unit-based vaccinators, and on a walk-in basis at Occupational Health Services (see list below). Be sure to bring your DMC ID badge, and for DMC employees, also bring your employee ID number. It may be helpful to wear short sleeves.

If you have received your flu vaccination at an outside facility, or have allergy to the vaccine, please provide documentation (from your vaccine provider or physician) to Occupational Health Services as soon as possible but no later than November 30, 2012.

Vaccine status will be identified by a "12" flu badge sticker. Please remove your "11" badge sticker at this time. If you were vaccinated elsewhere, you can obtain a "12" flu badge sticker from DMC Occupational Health Services (OHS) upon presentation of valid documentation of your vaccination.

Additional authoritative information regarding the flu vaccine can be found at www.cdc.gov/flu.


Vaccine Administration Sites at the DMC
Walk-ins welcome now @ DMC Occupational Health Services UHC, SGH and HVSH
Central Campus – University Health Center 4K: 7 am – 4 pm (M-F)
DMC Sinai-Grace Hospital – 2nd Floor, Suite 203, SGH Pro Building: 7 am – 3:30 pm (M-F)
DMC Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital, Suite GNA 111, Ground Floor: 7 am – 3:30 pm (M-F)

For the latest information for healthcare professionals, please follow the following link to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention @ Information for Healthcare Professionals.

Vaccination for Healthcare Workers


Infection Control/Precautionary Measures for Healthcare Workers

 

 

 

DMC Infection Control Precautions for Flu
N95 Respirators, Fit Testing and Respirator Certification 
Workplace Exposure to Flu Guidelines for DMC Employees


Flu Testing & Guidelines
DMC Healthcare professionals should use the following algorithm to test patients for flu: Flu Testing Algorithm Updated December 2012 

Other reference material:
DMC Emergency Department Flu Guidelines
CDC Influenza Treatment Guidelines
Oseltamivir Fact Sheet - Healthcare Professionals
Oseltamivir Fact Sheet - Patients & Parents
Zanamivir Fact Sheet - Heathcare Professionals
Zanamivir Fact Sheet - Patients & Parents 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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