RESPOND TO BOTH ( IT'S A RESPOND FROM A DISCUSSION QUESTION)

1) Employees may be resisting because they weren't part of the process when trying to come up with a solution. I would make it clear that we are working with older patients that have a weakened immune system. Influenza can be a serious health threat, especially for people who are vulnerable to influenza complications, including older adults and people living with certain long-term medical conditions. People older than age 65 years are at the highest risk for hospitalization and complications from influenza and account for the majority of influenza hospitalizations and deaths in the United States each year. Several studies have demonstrated that vaccination in health care settings decreases influenza transmission from HCP to patients, particularly in long-term care settings like our facility. As a caregiver, our priority are our residents and I would listen to all concerns and address them as they come up. I would also come up with a policy that may contain some exempts but under certain circumstances.

2) This happened at the homecare I work. I would try to educate each employee on the importance of the vaccination. I would show them some statistics of those that get the vaccination and those that dont. I would gather information to show them how much time is lost at jobs for those that get the flu. I would explain they do not want to get the flu, or take it home to their families. I would assure them that a nurse would come to them to give them the show so they do not have to travel anywhere. I would also assure them that if they developed a problem because of the shot, the company would take care of medical bills or not count any lost work time against them.

question:::::

You are the medical director of a large long-term care facility with a primarily elderly resident population. The frail elderly are particularly vulnerable to influenza. In addition to providing the flu vaccine to residents, you would like to require that all health care workers in the facility receive the flu vaccine as well, to provide indirect protection to the residents who are at high risk for influenza. You have heard that some of the employees are unhappy with this plan. What should you do?