USA Health preps for flu clinics
As it awaits shipments of the influenza vaccine, USA Health is preparing to administer doses to employees in ways that follow social distancing guidelines.
Most clinical departments will administer the flu vaccine to employees within their individual units. Employee flu clinics, meanwhile, will be established with reduced traffic flow for those in nonclinical departments, employee health officials say.
“Our goal is to get everyone vaccinated by the end of October,” said Teresa Aikens, nurse manager, infection prevention/employee health at University Hospital. “As doses arrive, we will administer them.”
USA Health requires all personnel to have the flu vaccine or possess an approved exception as a condition of employment or access to patients.
During a typical year, hospitals and clinics administer the vaccine at employee entrances or in large gatherings. But social distancing requirements related to COVID-19 have forced employee health personnel to plan to deliver the vaccine to smaller groups.
“We want everyone to know that we are working to get everything prepared,” said Amy Hill, nurse manager, infection prevention and control/employee health at Children’s & Women’s Hospital. “The flu shots are coming soon.”
Employees who wish to be vaccinated immediately may get a flu shot from a primary care provider or a pharmacy as long as they provide documentation to their supervisor.
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