Feature Story
Health Center Today, October 19, 2010
Flu Vaccine Available for Health Center Employees
By Carolyn Pennington
Employee Health Service (EHS) will be providing the 2010-11 trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (TIV) to employees, students, residents and volunteers during the following times:
Date |
Time |
Place |
| Thursday, October 21 | 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. | Food Court |
| Friday, October 22 | Noon to 8 p.m. | Food Court |
| Monday, October 25 | 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. | Food Court |
| Tuesday, October 26 | 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Keller Lobby |
| Wednesday, October 27 | Noon to 8 p.m. | Food Court |
This year’s influenza vaccine contains three new influenza virus strains:
- A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)-like virus (the same strain as was used for 2009 H1N1 monovalent vaccines)
- A/Perth/16/2009 (H3N2)-like virus
- B/Brisbane 60/2008-like antigens
There is no shortage of flu vaccine this year. EHS is using a new process in order to eliminate waiting times and make the immunization process quicker. They will be collecting data using scanners, therefore, all employees, students, residents and volunteers must bring their unexpired ID badges with magnetic stripes.
EHS encourages everyone to receive the vaccine. According to current national guidelines by the Center for Disease Control’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), unless contraindicated, “universal" flu vaccination of all persons age six months and over is recommended. Vaccination of health care workers is particularly important to prevent influenza outbreaks in health care institutions and prevent transmission of influenza to high risk patients.