The 2016 influenza vaccine is now available for staff and volunteers
All staff and volunteers are strongly encouraged to take the opportunity to have the influenza vaccine. There is a risk they may be exposed to, and transmit the disease to co-workers, vulnerable patients and their family. Maintaining a level of immunity in the HCW population ensures this risk of transmission is minimised.
For the 2016 influenza season the vaccine for HCW influenza immunisation will be a quadrivalent vaccine which contains:
A (H1N1): an A/California/7/2009 (H1N1) - like virus
A (H3N2): an A/Hong Kong/4801/2014 (H3N2) like virus*
B: a B/Brisbane/60/2008 like virus
B/Phuket/3073/2013 like virus.
Vaccine immunity lasts for about one year. It is important to receive an influenza vaccine annually to maintain protection.
Here's what you can do:
Attend to one of a series of mass vaccination clinics that will be organised from 18 April to June 2016.
Attend one of the many roving clinics visiting your clinical area
Visit the Infection Prevention Unit at your hospital to receive your Flu vaccination. It is best to call them before, to ensure someone is in the office at the time.
Declaration
All staff who received the vaccine elsewhere and those opting out of vaccination MUST complete the vaccination declaration.
Complete your declaration
Your flu-vaccination status will be recorded in our staff health database so we are aware of the percentage of staff protected across the hospital.
Again, we strongly encourage each and every Western Health staff member especially those staff who work with highly vulnerable patients to get immunised and thank you for your contribution to a safer Western Health.
