St. Vincent's institutes policy requiring all physicians and associates to get flu shots

Submitted by Charlie Patton, Florida Times-Union

St. Vincent's HealthCare has instituted a requirement that all physicians and associates get a flu shot.

President and CEO Moody Chisholm said all St. Vincent's HealthCare associates, both clinical or non-clinical, must get a flu shot or war a mask from Jan. 1 through the end of flu season.

The change in policy is based on new recommendations by the American Hospital Association.

In a press release, St. Vincent's noted that over the last 40 years, an average of 36,000 people have died annually from influenza. People who acquire flu can spread it before they know they have it, the release noted, making it crucial that people working with the vulnerable patient population take steps to avoid unknowingly spreading the disease.

"This is the direction many hospitals around the country are going," said St. Vincent's HealthCare director of Performance Improvement.

http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/400638/charlie-patton/2012-10-30/st-vincents-institutes-policy-requiring-all-physicians

Action News Jacksonville

St. Vincent's tightens flu policy for employees

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- St. Vincent's Hospital is tightening its flu vaccination policy for employees.

All associates, clinical or non-clinical, must either get a flu shot or wear a mask.

This takes effect January 1, which is traditionally when flu activity peaks in the U.S., and ends when the flu season ends.  The CDC says flu activity can continue to occur as late as May

http://www.actionnewsjax.com/content/topstories/story/St-Vincents-tightens-flu-policy-for-employees/NNls1gl6KEOTfvrNLduqmw.cspx