Date post: | 07-May-2015 |
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Business Planning for Influenza Season 2009-2010
Patrick Gannon, RPh, MS, FABCVice President of Quality & Safety
Southcoast Hospitals Group
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Outline1. “Flu”
2. Vaccine updates: Seasonal flu update H1N1 vaccine update / “swine flu” Pneumococcal vaccine in 2009-2010
3. Business preparation
4. Flu facts
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What is the “flu?”
• Respiratory / not “stomach flu”– Cough, congestion, sore throat, fever around
100.4°F, body aches
• Virus / not bacteria– Antibiotics do not kill viruses
• Pneumonia is the common complication– Bacterial pneumonia -> use antibiotics
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Pandemic?
• A human infectious disease across a large region, such as a continent or worldwide
– Declared on June 11, 2009, by WHO
– Due to spread, not severity
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2009 – 2010 Seasonal Flu Vaccine
• Unexpected national shortage
• 10 million dose shortfall due to one manufacturer
• But ... current flu viruses appear to be H1N1
• May have more vaccine later in the flu season
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Target Groups for H1N1 Vaccine
1. Pregnant women2. Household contacts/caregivers of infants < 6
months old3. Healthcare workers4. Persons 6 mos – 24 yrs/old 5. High risk persons 25 - 64 yrs/old
Estimated 3.4 million persons in Mass.
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H1N1 Vaccine
• Dosing:– Persons 10 years and older: 1 dose– Children between 6 months and 9 years old:
• 2 doses, 1 month apart• Temporary delay in H1N1 vaccine deliveries from the
government
• H1N1 vaccine itself is free to all persons living or working in the U.S. No one is denied for reasons of payment.
*** Vaccination is NOT mandatory ***
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People 65 years old and above• Have some immunity to H1N1
• Risk for infection less
• Offer H1N1 vaccine when demand among target groups met
• Still target this group for:– Seasonal flu vaccine– Pneumococcal vaccine
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Pneumococcal Vaccine
• Pneumococcal disease – Complication of flu
• Vaccinate high risk groups now– > 65 years of age– Chronic medical conditions– Asthmatics, smokers
Vaccinating those at risk for pneumococcal disease protects them now, and during the next pandemic!
New!
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The need for business planning
• An estimated 25 percent of businesses do not reopen following a major disaster, according to the Institute for Business & Home Safety.
• Planning can offset losses.• Benefits of planning:
– Minimize business disruption– Protect employees’ health & safety– Limit negative impact to the community
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In your business …Implement infection prevention
• Encourage vaccination:– Seasonal– H1N1– Pneumonia if applicable
• Give staff time to attend an H1N1 vaccine clinic• Easy hand washing accessibility
– No-touch trash cans– Provide disinfectant wipes for frequent work
surface cleaning
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In your business …Do pandemic planning• Communicate the plans to your staff
• Pandemic peak / absenteeism rate ??? %– Identify critical job functions– Suspend non-critical activities if necessary– Cross-train for coverage– Work from home when caring for sick family members– Plan for school closures / staffing impact
• Provide flu booklets: www.mass.gov/flu/– Caring for People at Home booklet – free!
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In your business …Focus on employee relations
• Clearly communicate the sick time policy• Check with staff daily:
– ILI? -> Send them home• ILI? -> Stay home for 24 hours after fever
subsides without medication• No doctor’s note to return• Flexible sick time policy• Plan for staff needs when no sick time left
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In your business …Have a communications process
• Who is the workplace coordinator for flu issues?
• Emergency communications plans: – For staff– Suppliers– Customers/clients
• Voice mail / signage / website / off-hours telephone numbers
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What is Southcoast doing?
• Serve as H1N1 vaccine depot
• Provide vaccines to patients, staff, physicians & volunteers
• Plan for hospital volume surge
• Mid-November: H1N1 public vaccination clinics
• Weekly video podcast on iTunes
• Public education: www.southcoast.org/flu/
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Important!
• You cannot get the flu from the flu shot
• According to government officials, the H1N1 vaccine is safe — it’s made the same way as the seasonal flu shot.
• Don’t like shots? Nasal spray flu vaccines are suitable for some persons (based on age and medical condition)– NOTE: The nasal spray vaccines are processed, live virus
vaccines and pose minimal risk of exposure to the flu. Spray vaccines are therefore not suitable for all people.
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What can you do?
• Get vaccinated!• Stay home if you are sick with the flu• Wash hands frequently • Cough into your sleeve
Read: southcoast.org/flu
mass.gov/flu
FLU.gov
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20www.southcoast.org
www.southcoast.org/flu/