Influenza (December 2003)

Influenza (December 2003)

December 1, 2003
by MuirLab

Here are some facts published in Hospital Employee Health - March 2003:

  • Death rates from influenza are rising with the aging of the U.S. population.
  • According to the CDC, the virus now kills an average of 36,000 people a year.
  • The virus can lead to dangerous complications in the elderly or immune-compromised.
  • According to CDC, influenza is one of the major infectious disease causes of death in the country.
  • CDC also notes that in a severe season deaths could be as high as 70,000 with 90% of those deaths occurring among people who are 65 years of age or older.
  • Priority targets for vaccination include the elderly, chronically ill and health care workers.
  • According to a national health survey, only about 38% of health care workers receive the flu vaccine.

The article recommendations include:

  • Making the program accessible to employees.
  • Continue to give vaccinations beyond October and November.

Become proactive. Now is the time to implement a strategy for vaccination!

The most common reason employees are not vaccinated stems from the common misconception that influenza can be acquired as a result. This of course is not possible! So, order your vaccine soon, and develop a strategy to encourage all employees and your elderly patients to get vaccinated