1. CHS EMPLOYEE
INFLUENZA VACCINATION
Cottage Health System Commitment to keeping our
patients, employees and volunteers safe.

2. CHS Policy
 Requires all employees and volunteers to either obtain
the annual influenza vaccine by November 1st or sign a
declination and wear a mask from November 1st to
March 31st 2015 while at any CHS facility.
Or…
 The mask will be worn regardless of reason for
declination.

3. CHS Policy
 A visual identifier will be used to assist in
monitoring compliance.
 After November 1st , employees who have not
received the vaccine or signed the declination
will be in violation of the policy and subject to
corrective action.
 After November 1st employees who have
signed the declination and observed not
wearing a mask except during their meal
break will be in violation of the policy and
subject to corrective action.

5. Why Get Vaccinated?
 Influenza can be a serious disease that can lead to
hospitalization and sometimes even death.
 Anyone can get very sick from the flu, including
people who are otherwise healthy.
 You can get the flu from patients and coworkers who
are sick with the flu.
 If you get the flu, you can spread it to to others even
if you don’t feel sick.
 The flu vaccine is the single best prevention of the
flu.
 By getting vaccinated, you help protect yourself,
your family at home, and your patients.

6. How Influenza Affected Us
Last Season
 Flu-related death is the 10th leading cause of death in Santa Barbara
County.
 In California:
 342 flu-related deaths.
 750 non-fatal flu-related ICU admissions.
 Majority of cases were adults aged 40-64 years old.
 There were 3 flu-related deaths in Santa Barbara.
 The flu vaccination reduced the risk of flu-related hospitalization by
72%.
 95% of CHS employees and volunteers received the flu vaccine.
 There was a decrease in staff absenteeism since implementation of
policy.

7. Decrease of Staff Absenteeism Since
Implementation of Policy

8. Employee’s Role in Reducing
Flu Infections
 Comply with the “Influenza Vaccination for
Employee Policy”.
 Follow respiratory etiquette and “cover your
cough”.
 Ask patients and visitors with respiratory
symptoms to wear a mask.
 Stay home if you have influenza-like symptoms
such as fever, cough, sore throat, body aches,
chills, and fatigue.

9. Employee’s Role in Reducing
Flu Infections
 Follow Standard Precautions:
 Follow hand hygiene policy.
 Wear appropriate personal protective
equipment:
 Use gloves for contact with mucous
membranes or bodily secretions.
 Use gowns when exposure to bodily fluids
is likely.
 Use a mask with cough inducing or aerosol
generating procedures.

10. Impact of Flu on Health Care
Facilities
 Up to ¼ of Health Care Employees
contract influenza each season.
 A CDC hospital survey conducted during
flu season showed the following:
 35% reported staffing shortages.
 28% reported bed shortages.
 43% reported ICU shortages.
 9% reported diversion of patients to other
facilities.

11. What Else Do You Need to
Know?
I don’t need to
know more…I already
got the vaccine or
am going to get it.
Background on
Influenza Vaccination
Policy & Why Is Getting
Vaccinated Important?
FAQ’s
Where Did We
Get Our Information &
Who to Contact
With Questions?
What is
Influenza?
Click on the box of your choice

12. Frequently Asked Questions
 Does the vaccine contain
preservatives?
 Will the vaccine make me sick?
 I am healthy and never get sick.
 What if I don’t get the flu vaccine?
 If I sign the declination do I need
to wear a mask?
 What about antiviral medication
like Tamiflu?
 Who should not receive the
vaccine?
 What about Guillain-Barre
Syndrome?
 I have a documented severe
allergy to chicken eggs.
 How do I know if I have a cold or
the fu?
 Should I still get vaccinated even
if I have already gotten sick with
the flu?
 How effective is the flu vaccine?
 How do flu vaccines work?
 Should I get vaccinated if I’m
immunocompromised or have a
chronic health condition?
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Click on any of the below questions to see
the response.

13. How Do Flu Vaccines Work?
 Flu vaccines cause antibodies to
develop in the body about two
weeks after vaccination.
 These antibodies provide
protection against infection with
the viruses that are in the vaccine.
 The seasonal flu vaccine protects
against influenza viruses that will
be most common during the
upcoming season.
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14. Should I Still Get Vaccinated
Even if I Have Already Gotten
Sick with the Flu?
 Yes.
 It is possible that your illness was not
caused by an influenza virus.
 Even if you were sick with one influenza
virus, the seasonal flu vaccine protects
against the most common flu viruses.
 The vaccine can offer protection against
other influenza viruses that you haven’t
been exposed to yet.
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15. Do I Need to Wear a Mask if I Sign
the Declination?
 Yes.
 You will need to wear the mask from
November 1st 2014 to March 31st
2015.
 If you receive the vaccination after
that period you won’t need to wear
the mask any longer.
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16. Does the Vaccine Contain
Preservatives?
 No, CHS is using
preservative and thimerosal
free vaccinations for all
employees.
 Thimerosal is a preservative
included in multidose vials of
vaccine to prevent bacterial
growth.
 There is no scientific
evidence linking thimerosal to
neurodevelopmental
disorders such as autism.
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17.  The influenza vaccine is very safe.
 The injectable vaccine is not a live
virus.
 The injectable influenza vaccine is
inactivated and cannot cause the flu.
 The vaccine may be associated with
mild fever or local injection site
reactions.
 Studies show these reactions occur no
more than with a placebo.
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Will the Vaccine Make Me
Sick?

18. I Am Healthy and Never Get
Sick
 There is a difference between getting sick with the flu,
and carrying the virus.
 Many people with strong immune systems may
become infected, and successfully fight off the infection
without ever becoming any sicker than having a mild
cold. But, they are still spreading the virus.
 The influenza virus can have serious consequences –
even for people who have no risk factors.
 The average annual burden of seasonal influenza
among healthy adults estimates to include:
 5 million illnesses.
 2.4 million outpatient hospital visits.
 32,000 hospitalizations.
 680 deaths.
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19. What if I Don’t Get the Flu
Vaccine?
 You still need to sign a declination.
 If you have not signed the declination or
gotten the flu vaccination by November 1st,
you are in violation of the policy and subject
to corrective action.
 After signing the declination, you are required
to wear a mask while at any CHS facility from
November 1st to March 31st.
 The mask must be worn at all times, except
while eating or drinking.
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20. How Effective is the Flu
Vaccine?
 The flu vaccine is the best
protection against the flu.
 If you get the flu vaccine, you
are 60% less likely to need
treatment for the flu by a
healthcare provider.
 The vaccine reduces illness,
antibiotic use, time lost from
work, hospitalizations, and
deaths.
 Protects you and your patients
from H1N1, Influenza A, and
Influenza B viruses.
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21. What About Antiviral
Medications like Tamiflu?
 Antiviral medications do not
take the place of vaccination.
 Resistance can develop to
current anti-influenza
medications making them
less effective for treatment.
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22.  Children under 6 months old.
 People who have a moderate to severe
illness with a fever (wait until recovered to
get vaccination).
 Women in their 1st trimester of pregnancy.
 People who have developed Guillain-Barre
syndrome within 6 weeks of getting the
influenza vaccine in the past.
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Who Should Not Receive the
Flu Vaccine?

23.  An acute form of polyneuritis, often
preceded by a respiratory infection,
sometimes causing weakness or paralysis
of the limbs.
 The estimated risk for Guillain-Barre
syndrome is approximately 1 additional case
per 1 million people vaccinated.
 The link to Guillain-Barre Syndrome is
doubtful. Many studies have found no link.
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What About Guillain-Barre
Syndrome?

24. For the 2014-2015
season the trivalent flu
vaccine offered to
employees is egg-free.
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I Have a Documented Severe
Allergy to Eggs

25. Should I Still Get the Flu Vaccine if I’m
Immunocompromised or have a Chronic
Health Condition?
 Yes.
 Healthcare workers in these
groups can benefit from
influenza vaccination as they
are at greater risk of severe
influenza illness and
complications.
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26.  The flu causes up to 49,000 deaths annually.
 Last season, there were 342 confirmed flu
deaths reported in California, 3 of which were in
Santa Barbara.
 8th leading cause of death in U.S.
 Seasonal influenza accounts for roughly
225,000 hospitalizations a year.
 The single best way to prevent the flu is to
get vaccinated.
 Influenza vaccination prevented 79,000
hospitalizations and 6.6 million illnesses last
season
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Influenza Facts

27. Return to
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Need To Know?”
 A person is able to spread the
virus up to 1-2 days before onset
of symptoms and 5-7 days after
becoming sick
 The flu is spread when a person
with the flu coughs, sneezes, or
talks and droplets containing their
germs land in your nose or mouth.
The droplets can also
contaminate surfaces that people
touch.
Influenza Facts

28. Return to
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Need To Know?”
When Few People are
Immunized…
…Disease is Free to Spread
Through the Population

29. Return to
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Need To Know?”
When Most People are
Immunized…
…Disease is Contained.

30. Resources & Contacts
 http://www.cdc.gov/flu/
 http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/
 http://www.countyofsb.org/phd/iz.aspx?
=22032
 http://flu.oregon.gov/articles/Pages/HC
WResources.aspx
 http://www.cdph.ca.gov
 http://www.flu.gov
 http://www.co.linn.or.us/health/public_h
ealth/immunizations.htm
 Employee Health & Safety Ext
# 58270
 Infection Control Ext # 57204
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31. Background
 Joint Commission 2020 Flu Vaccine Goal
 90% of Health Care Provider (HCP) nationwide receive the flu
vaccination.
 Agencies strongly support HCP influenza vaccination
 CDC: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
 APIC: Association for Professional Infection Control
 HICPAC: Hospital Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee
 SHEA: Society For Healthcare Epidemiology
 IDSA: Infectious Disease Society of America
 ACIP: Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices
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32. Background
 California Public Health
 Supports mandatory vaccination or
masking for HCP in hospitals.
 Santa Barbara County Public Health
 Endorses vaccination or masking of HCP
in Santa Barbara County in support of the
California Public Health Initiative.
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33. Background
 Other endorsements:
 Society for Healthcare Epidemiology
 Ethics Committee of American Medical Association
 Infectious Disease Society of America
 American Academy of Pediatrics
 National Patient Safety Foundation
 Department of Defense
 American College of Physicians
 American Hospital Association
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34. Background
 Nearly 100% of hospitals
in the Tri-County area
have a Mandatory
Influenza Vaccination or
Masking Policy:
 Arroyo Grande
Community Hospital:
Arroyo Grande
 French Hospital Medical
Center: San Luis Obispo
 Sierra Vista Regional
Medical Center: San Luis
Obispo
 Twin Cities Community
Hospital: Templeton
 Marian Medical Center:
Santa Maria
 Community Memorial
Hospital: Ventura
 Los Robles Hospital &
Medical Center:
Thousand Oaks
 Santa Paula Hospital:
Santa Paula
 St. John’s Pleasant Valley
Hospital: Camarillo
 St. John’s Regional
Medical Center: Oxnard
 Ventura County Medical
Center: Ventura
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35. How Do I know if I Have a Cold
or the Flu?
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Symptoms Cold Flu
Fever Rare Usual. Can be high.
Chills Rare Usual.
Muscle Aches and Pains Mild, if any. Usual, often severe. Affects body all over.
Headache Rare. Usual.
Feeling Tired and Weak Mild, if any. Usual, often severe. Makes you want to stay in bed.
Coughing Mild to moderate hacking. Usual. Can become severe.
Sneezing Common Sometimes
Stuffy Nose Common Sometimes
Sore Throat Common Sometimes

36. How Do I Get The Vaccine?
 This month’s clinics:
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 Read our weekly emails.
 Ask your manager.
 Call EH&S – (805) 569-8270.