Influenza Season Is Coming... PDF Print E-mail
Tuesday, 02 October 2007

With influenza season just around the corner, now is the time to start thinking about getting immunized. Each year, 10 to 20 percent of Americans get ill, approximately 114,000 are hospitalized, and more than 36,000 die from influenza and related complications.

We do an excellent job immunizing our residents, but we tend to fall short when it comes to thinking about our own health, and how seasonal illness could be decreased by accepting annual flu vaccinations. Immunization for influenza in healthcare workers has historically been extremely low – averaging less than 40%. Campaign and contest This year ABCM has launched an employee influenza immunization campaign and contest —“Protect your patients. Protect yourself”—with the goal of vaccinating 95% of all employees. Free vaccinations will be offered within the next couple of months to all ABCM employees—stay tuned for details about the dates. Facility prizes for reaching the goal have yet to be decided – we’ll keep you updated. Reaching 95% employee vaccination rate is a very aggressive goal and with your help, we can reach that goal – so spread the word not the germ and provide education to those nay-sayers!

Did you know?
Individuals are generally infectious 1-4 days before the onset of symptoms; however, only around 50% of infected persons will develop classical symptoms of influenza – thus spreading disease to residents, co-workers, and your own family if you did not receive a flu vaccine.

Common Myths about Influenza

Myth #1: The influenza is just a bad cold.
Fact: Influenza is caused by the influenza virus and is much more serious than the common cold. Symptoms of influenza can be severe and can last for two weeks. Symptoms can include high fever, body aches, headache, and extreme fatigue.

Myth #2: The injectable influenza vaccine will give me influenza.
Fact: The recommended immunization for health care workers is the injectable vaccine made from killed virus, so you cannot get the influenza from the influenza shot. Immunization is 70 to 90 percent effective in healthy individuals who are younger than 65 years of age. It takes about two weeks for your body to develop immunity to influenza after the vaccination.

Myth #3: I don’t need to be immunized, I’m healthy.
Fact: Health care workers are at increased risk for contracting influenza because of exposure from patients and in the community. In addition, unvaccinated health care workers who have the flu, but are not sick with symptoms, can still spread the virus to others, including patients, co-workers, and family members. Immunization is the best way to prevent getting or spreading influenza.

So what does this have to do with the MDS tip you ask? Section W2 must be completed for all residents on all assessment types (OBRA and/or PPS) with Assessment Reference Dates and all discharge tracking forms with Discharge Dates from October 1 through June 30. Discharge tracking forms are included in order to capture flu vaccines administered to residents whose flu vaccines were not captured on an MDS assessment.

Lead your team to victory in obtaining a 95% employee vaccination rate!

Submitted By:
Pam Vap, RN, C, MHSA
Executive Nurse Consultant

Last Updated ( Tuesday, 02 October 2007 )
 
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