As knowledge and law advance for best medical practices, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Children’s Hospital, Behavioral Medicine Center and Murrieta campus update their policies to reflect the highest standards for patient care.
To protect patients, the organization has revised its requirements regarding influenza vaccination for health care employees. In the Q&A below, Adrian Cotton, MD, interim medical director of employee health services, provides more information.
Q: Are immunizations still available from employee health services?
A: Yes, Loma Linda has been providing free, onsite vaccination for its employees’ convenience since Oct. 3, and will continue to do so.
Q: Why is the influenza vaccination policy changing?
A: The state of California mandates that all general acute care hospitals require their employees to receive the influenza vaccine annually or declare in writing that they decline it. The vaccine must be received or declined by Dec. 31. The declination form will be available by the end of November. We hope as many employees as possible will receive the vaccine.
Additionally, as of 2012, the hospital-accrediting agency Joint Commission revised and strengthened its standard to reflect current science and the national focus on annual influenza vaccination. The policy requires that each hospital offer the annual influenza vaccine to its employees. Furthermore, the Joint Commission will evaluate hospitals on whether they improve their vaccination rates annually.
In addition to following law and accreditation standards, Loma Linda's policy that all employees should be vaccinated meets recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Q: If I cannot receive the vaccine, can I still work if I wear a mask?
A: Yes, employees who have not received the vaccination are required to wear masks in patient-care areas.
Q: Why is it critical for health care workers to be vaccinated?
A: Individuals with influenza are contagious before they feel any symptoms of illness and for five to seven days after becoming symptomatic. Though you may feel healthy when you arrive to work, you could be passing along influenza to vulnerable patients at high risk for complications or even death from the virus. Conversely, the patients could infect you. The virus can spread by droplets to people as far as six feet away. Getting vaccinated protects our employees, their friends and family, and our patients.
Q: For what reasons can I decline the vaccine?
A: Per CDC guidelines, individuals can decline the vaccine if they have a history of Guillain-Barre syndrome or a severe, life-threatening allergy to the vaccine or any of its ingredients.
Due to potential access issues with seeing a primary care provider in the necessary time frame, we will NOT be requiring a licensed independent practitioner to sign your declination form this year.
Individuals with egg allergies will be referred to their physician for the vaccine or to employee health services for Flubok, which does not use the influenza virus or chicken eggs in its manufacturing.
Q: How do I decline the vaccine?
A: You can decline the vaccine by filling out a declination form, which will be available by the end of November.
Q: May I get the vaccination elsewhere if I prefer?
A: Yes, you may receive the vaccine elsewhere if you provide proof.
Q: When and where can I get the vaccine from employee health services?
A: Mobile vaccine opportunities will be coming to the units. Additionally, the vaccination will be offered in the Medical Center cafeteria “C” from 7:30 to 10 a.m. on Nov. 18 and Dec. 5, 13 and 19; and from 2 to 4 p.m. Nov. 21, 28 and Dec. 27.