Rush to host mass vaccination day for employees, faculty and students on October 1
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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – Rush University Medical Center is requiring all employees, students, volunteers and contractors to get the seasonal flu vaccine annually. Depending on availability, the H1N1 vaccine will also be required as well this year.
“It is well documented at hospitals throughout the country that unvaccinated personnel help to spread the flu to patients during the flu season. While Rush has had a good response rate to voluntary vaccinations from employees in previous years, it is not good enough to protect our patients, families and visitors, as well as our employees, students and their families,” said Dr. John Segreti, hospital epidemiologist and infectious disease specialist at Rush.
“Rush has a strong commitment to quality and continuous improvement of our patient outcomes, and that makes adaptation of this new vaccination policy a natural and logical step in our efforts,” said Dr. Larry Goodman, president and CEO.
The vaccines will be made available free of charge to everyone who works or attends classes at Rush. The seasonal flu vaccine will be available to employees beginning on September 28 at its Employee and Corporate Health Services office. The hospital will host a mass vaccination day on October 1st from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Armour Academic Center or Rush University, 600 S. Paulina Street, room 994. Anyone with a Rush ID can receive flu shots, including students, volunteers and employees.
In addition, the hospital will have a mobile vaccination team that will travel around the campus to provide shots during all shifts.
Persons with medical, religious or cultural or other objections to receiving the vaccines will be allowed to request an exemption. Individuals who receive an exemption will be required to wear a face mask in all patient areas during flu season, and may be required to wear it throughout the Rush campus in the event of a severe outbreak. Failure to follow this policy can result in disciplinary action.
“Whether someone works directly with patients or not, we are all part of the same environment at Rush and can pass on viruses to each other through ordinary everyday contact, in the elevators, hallways and other public areas. Particularly in light of the H1N1 flu pandemic, everyone at Rush has an important part to play in protecting ourselves, our patients and each other from catching the flu,” said Segreti.
Rush has more than 8,000 employees and over 1,500 students. Adequate supplies of the seasonal flu vaccine have been ordered for everyone who works or goes to school at Rush. If there is a shortage of vaccine for either seasonal or H1N1, priority for the vaccination will be given to people who provide direct patient care.
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