Influenza Prevention
We anticipate that there will be two types of influenza
illness and influenza vaccines this year
• Seasonal influenza – the usual flu that causes illness in
fall and winter every year
• H1N1 Influenza – a novel flu virus that began causing
illness for the first time in April 2009
Do you plan to or have you already received seasonal
flu vaccine this year ?
YES
NO
• The following presentation will take
approximately 5 minutes to view
• You will be asked to answer a
question at the end of the
presentation
Seasonal Influenza - what it is and
how it spreads
• Seasonal influenza causes illness in large numbers of
people each year in fall and winter
• People with influenza illness usually have sudden
onset of fever, body aches, tiredness, cough and sore
throat.
• Influenza is easily spread from person to person by
coughs and sneezes or by touching surfaces where
the influenza germs were left by an ill person
• People with influenza can spread it to others starting
1 day before they feel sick and upto 5-7 days after
You can spread influenza to others even if you don’t
feel sick yourself
Burden of Seasonal Influenza
Every year in the US
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30 million people get sick due to influenza
11 million need to see a heath care provider
200,000 people are admitted to the hospital
36,000 people die from seasonal influenza
Importance of Seasonal Flu Vaccine
for Healthcare workers
• Because you work in health care, you are
twice as likely to get influenza than the
general population
• If you get influenza you can spread it to your
patients, family and co-workers
The single best way to prevent influenza is to
get the flu vaccine each year
Effectiveness of Vaccine
• How well the flu vaccine works varies from year to year
• The vaccine works best in young, healthy adults
• The flu vaccine prevents influenza illness in 70-90% of
healthy people under the age of 65. This means that
each year a small number of people get influenza even
though they got the vaccine. However they usually have
less severe illness than those who were not vaccinated
• The vaccine is less effective in older people and those
with health problems. Thus it is even more important
that people around them (family members and
healthcare workers) get the flu vaccine
Flu vaccine side-effects
Two types of seasonal flu vaccine will be available at Mayo
Flu shot:
• A killed vaccine given as an injection
• Side-effects include: Soreness at the vaccine site and
muscle aches
Flu Mist:
• A live vaccine given as a nasal spray. You cannot
receive this vaccine if you are 50 years or older, have
chronic health problems or if you are pregnant
• Side-effects include: Cough, runny nose, headache
Side-effects with both types of vaccine are mild
and generally last less than 48 hours
TOP REASONS why you should get the flu
vaccine
 You are more likely to get
influenza because you work in
healthcare
 If you get influenza you can
spread it to patients and others
even though you may not feel sick
 The flu vaccine is safe and
effective and free
 By getting the flu vaccine you
protect your patients, family, coworkers and community
Protect our patients, protect your
family, protect yourself !
After viewing this presentation, if you still DO NOT plan to
get the SEASONAL FLU vaccine, please let us know why.
Pick the option that best describes your reason
 I don’t think I need the vaccine
 The flu vaccine makes me sick
 The flu vaccine doesn’t really work
 The side effects of the vaccine are worse than the flu
 I don’t think employee flu vaccination protects patients
 I am allergic to the vaccine. Consider scheduling a allergy
consult to see if you can safely get the flu vaccine
All answers are CONFIDENTIAL
Data is being collected in order to improve our programs
Your answers will not be shared with supervisors
Other Influenza Prevention Measures
 Cover your mouth and nose while
coughing or sneezing and encourage
others to do the same.
 Display Respiratory Etiquette signs in
out - patient areas
 Room out-patients with cough
illness as soon as possible. While
evaluating these patients wear a
droplet mask
 Perform hand hygiene - use soap and
water or alcohol hand rub
 Place hospital patients with fever and
respiratory symptoms in “ Droplet
Plus” isolation until influenza is ruled
out, follow Door Card instructions
If you think you have Influenza….
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Do not come in to work if you have fever and cough
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Call your phsyician if you have questions about when
you can safely return to work
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Prescription medication (antivirals) can be helpful if
started within 48 hours. Talk to your primary provider,
especially if you have heart or lung problems
If you are diagnosed with seasonal influenza you
need to stay home till your fever is gone
• Remember the flu vaccine is not 100% effective. So
you can still get the flu even if you have had the flu
vaccine.
H1N1 Influenza
• H1N1 flu virus is a novel flu virus that began causing
flu-like illness in April, 2009
• H1N1 illness is similar to seasonal flu – main symptoms
are fever, muscle aches, cough, sore throat
• The seasonal flu vaccine will not protect against H1N1
• An H1N1 vaccine will be available later this year, watch
the Influenza web site for H1N1 vaccine information
• H1N1 vaccination is currently recommended for:
• Pregnant women
• Contacts of children less than 6 months of age
• Healthcare workers
• People 6 months -24 years
• People 25-64 years with chronic medical problems
H1N1 Influenza
• H1N1 flu virus is a novel flu virus that began causing
flu-like illness in April of 2009
• As of August 2009, over 7000 cases and 500 deaths due
to H1N1 have been reported in the US
• It is likely that we will see more H1N1 cases this fall
• H1N1 illness is similar to seasonal flu – main symptoms
are fever, muscle aches, cough, sore throat
• H1N1 most commonly affects younger people,
especially those between the age of 5 and 24 years
H1N1 Vaccine
• The seasonal flu vaccine will not protect against H1N1
• An H1N1 vaccine will be available later this year
• Groups with highest priority for H1N1 vaccination include:
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Pregnant women
People who care for children younger than 6 months
Health care workers who have direct patient contact
Children 6 months - 4 years
Children 5 -18 years with chronic medical conditions
• It is likely that you will need 2 doses of H1N1 vaccine
separated by 3 weeks
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Can I do anything else to prevent
H1N1?
• H1N1 is spread in the same way as seasonal influenza
• Hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette and appropriate
isolation prevent spread of both seasonal and H1N1
influenza
• Stay home if you have fever and new cough
• If you are diagnosed with H1N1 infection, we currently
recommend that you stay home for 7 days from when
you started feeling sick.
• H1N1 information is changing rapidly.
• AOEC thanks William Buchta, MD of
the Mayo Clinic System for donating
this set of slides. August 2009