Protect Yourself and Others from the Flu

Overview of What's Available

(Click on links for more information)

Action is the Best Form of Prevention.

Does your business have plans in place to handle an influenza pandemic?

Ofstead's Executive Suite is designed to minimize the impact of flu on your employees and business.  Fully customizable and ready to go, the protocol templates cover many issues likely to affect your company during a pandemic.

Our educational materials are designed to address common fears, dispel myths, and give employees real-world steps to protect themselves and others.  Click on the images below for a full-length view and see for yourself!

New materials are being developed as the flu season progresses, so check back often. Contact Ofstead & Associates for orders, more information, or to be alerted when new materials are launched.

By e-mail: jeremy@ofsteadinsights.com
By telephone: (651) 647-6268

Flu News

2009 Revised IDSA Policy

The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) released a revised policy on Mandatory Immunization of Health Care Workers Against Seasonal and 2009 H1N1 Influenza.

The revised copy includes the removal of declination for philosophical reasons, and detailed steps to protect patients from being infected by unimmunized HCWs.

The revised policy cites many scientific studies, including "Receptivity to mandatory influenza vaccination policies for healthcare workers among registered nurses working on inpatient units" by Poland, Ofstead, Tucker, and Beebe (2008).

To view the original policy from 2007, visit: http://www.idsociety.org/influenza.htm

To view the revised policy from 2009, visit the same page and click "IDSA’s Revised Policy Statement"

U.S. Preparations for 2009 H1N1 Influenza

In August 2009, the President’s council on Advisors on Sciences and Technology prepared a report for the President on H1N1 Influenza. The report offers a plausible scenario for the fall influenza season. It states that H1N1 could produce infection in 30-50% of the population, and cause as many as 30,000 to 90,000 deaths in the United States.

To read the report, visit: http://www.whitehouse.gov/assets/documents/PCAST_H1N1_Report.pdf

Respiratory Protection for Healthcare Workers in the Workplace

The Institute of Medicine (IOM) released guidance on the use of masks and respirators in the workplace. They offer recommendations for healthcare workers, including the use of fit-tested N95 respirators. The IOM also would like to increase research on influenza transmission and person respiratory protection in the future.

To read the full report, visit: http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12748

2009 National Influenza Vaccine Summit Slides Available

On June 29, 2009 – July 1, 2009, the CDC and AMA co-sponsored a National Influenza Vaccine Summit that included 200 of the nation’s leading experts. Critical issues related to pandemic flu and seasonal flu were discussed.

Click here for a copy of Cori Ofstead’s slides: http://www.preventinfluenza.org/NIVS_2009/3-Ofstead.pdf

Click here for a copy of other presenters’ slides: http://www.preventinfluenza.org/presentations_2009.asp

2009 Joint Commission Monograph

In June 2009, The Joint Commission released a monograph entitled "Providing a Safer Environment for Health Care Personnel and Patients Through Influenza Vaccination: Strategies from Research and Practice".

This monograph focuses on reasons why health care personnel do not receive their annual influenza vaccinations, and strategies to help health care organizations improve vaccination rates.

It cites numerous scientific studies, including "Influenza vaccination among registered nurses: Information receipt, knowledge, and decision making at an institution with a multifaceted educational program” by Ofstead, Poland, Tucker, and Beebe (2008).

To read the monograph in its entirety, please visit: http://www.jointcommission.org/NR/rdonlyres/814E02F2-1E1C-4D76-9043-DBB3E12A205A/0/Flu_Monograph.pdf

2008 CDC/ACIP Guideline

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) released a guideline on the Prevention and Control of Influenza. The guideline provides guidance on who should be vaccinated, and includes a strong statement about the vaccination of health care personnel.

The guideline cited a study by Ofstead, Poland, Tucker, and Beebe (2008) following a statement that health care workers declined vaccinations for a variety of reasons including fear of needles and side effects.

If you would like to read the full guideline, it is available at: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/rr/rr5707.pdf