Hospitals push shots for staffers

Local hospitals highly recommend that all their employees receive flu shots but have not made it mandatory as have some in Montana.

 Dr. Greg Vanichkachorn, an occupational medicine specialist, said Northwest Healthcare recommends that all staffers receive flu shots unless they are medically contraindicated or a person has a religious objection.

Staffers who refuse vaccination must sign forms stating why they declined.

If employees don’t get vaccinated, Vanichkachorn said they may be required to wear masks or protective clothing if they work in direct contact with patients.

“We’ve done a considerable amount of education,” Vanichkachorn said.

He said people have objected to this year’s seasonal shot that contains the H1N1 (swine flu) immunization as one of its three components. The vaccine triggered some protests last year with fears of unexpected side effects as production was pushed ahead to combat a potential epidemic of the novel virus.

 Vanichkachorn said most people have gotten past those fears.

“My patients have been very excited that this year they don’t have to get two shots,” he said.

He said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention chooses the three flu strains protected against in the seasonal vaccine. It’s based on research on varieties circulating around the globe.

“It’s a little bit of a roll of the dice every year,” he said. “We do get it wrong sometimes.”

However, he said the flu vaccine has reduced deaths from influenza complications over the years.

Brad Roy, administrator of The Summit Medical Fitness Center, said Northwest Healthcare offers vaccination sessions throughout its facilities such as Kalispell Regional Medical Center. He said the idea is to make getting immunized as convenient as possible for people at their work stations. 

Participation so far has been limited only by the supply of vaccine since only part of the shipment has been received. The first shots have been targeted to staffers working with highest-risk patients.

According to Roy, the policy has not changed this year but education and enforcement have been stepped up to increase participation.

“I think we’re more adamant this year,” Roy said. “If you are not vaccinated in a patient care situation, you will be wearing a mask.”

 North Valley Hospital also strongly encourages staffers and volunteers at the hospital to get the seasonal flu shots, according to Catherine Todd, director of marketing.

“We take protection of our patients very seriously,” she said. “We offer [free] vaccine to employees, their families and volunteers.”

Todd said the hospital initiates a strict masking policy for any unvaccinated employees as soon as Flathead County Health Department announces cases of flu detected in valley. Anyone who is not vaccinated must wear a mask if he or she passes within six feet of a patient, a patient threshold or any visitor in the hospital.

“We had 98 percent compliance last year,” Todd said.

Like Kalispell Regional, North Valley Hospital makes getting vaccinated very convenient with an employee dedicated to administering shots. Todd said it could not have been easier when she got her shot.

“She came with her cart and did it right at my desk,” Todd said. “It was almost like a drive-through.”

Nationally, an average of less than 50 percent of health-care workers get flu shots — although 95 percent of doctors get vaccinated.

This year, the CDC has expanded its flu vaccine recommendations to include every American over the age of six months.

Reporter Candace Chase may be reached at 758-4436 or by e-mail at cchase@dailyinterlake.com.