Introduction
- Influenza pandemic lead to calamitous consequences
- Employees may contract influenza from residents
- Friends and relatives of the residents are also at risk
- Imperative to educate all parties
- Vaccination of all parties is fundamental
Learning outcomes
- Help understand the importance of receiving a flu shot
- Prevent social disruptions and economic consequences of the spread of flu
- Educators must understand the prevailing status and awareness of flu vaccination
- The study creates knowledge for all the parties by highlighting the reasons for and importance of vaccination
Background
- Vaccination is among the most proactive measures
- Recommended for individuals older than six years
- Reduces the percentage of individuals developing flu
Nursing Home Employees
- Employees in a nursing home environment are susceptible to contracting flu
- Option in the nursing home environment is left to the individual employees
- Vaccinating employees help save lives, mitigate social disruptions and economic consequences
Nursing Home Employees Cont’d
- Administrative staff have limited clinical information regarding influenza
- They consider themselves immune to flu
- The nursing home environment is contaminated with the influenza virus
- Imperative for the staff to be vaccinated
- Employees are highly exposed
Family and visitors
- Influenza is a communicable respiratory infection
- The flu pandemic in the public prevails when a fresh flu virus sub-type emerges
- No infection-specific vaccine is in existence when the flu emerges
- Individuals with poor health are more likely to contract flu
- Better nutrition and health care influence the consequent morbidity and mortality
Family and visitors Cont’d
- Individuals do not have to be in direct contact with the infected persons
- The environment is often contaminated with the flu virus
- Visitors and family to be vaccinated against flu
- Restrict the visits by friends and family to curtail the spread
- Should cooperate with health providers
Employee Preparedness
- Employees in nursing homes should be well prepared
- There is usually a short supply of vaccines
- Have elaborated acquisition and distribution channels
- Implement additional traditional prevention methods
- Use protective equipment in addition to vaccinations
Employee Preparedness Cont’d
- Have the ability to group residents
- Curtail social activities and rehabilitation events
- Facilitate the transfer of patients home or other nursing homes
- Communicate with family and friends as well as the media
Residents
- Different residents have different health needs
- Are exposed to the danger of being infected
- Paramount for the residents to be immunized against flu
- Chronic diseases are among the leading reason for taking flu vaccination
- There is perceived vulnerability to flu
References
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