MBGH Reports Worksite H1N1 Program Complete

8/14/2019 MBGH Reports Worksite H1N1 Program Complete

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Memphis Business Group on Health 2009 1

MBGH Reports October 2009

Memphis Business Group on Health

Planning & Implementing an H1N1 Worksite Program

October, 2009 Employers have the potential to be significantly impacted by H1N1 starting inlate August through next spring. Knowing the answers to some key questions will help yourespond to higher than normal absenteeism as well as be prepared to help protect employeesthrough a worksite-based flu and H1N1 vaccination program.

Read below to find answers to these key questions for employers:

Who should receive the H1N1 vaccine?

How does an employer obtain the H1N1 vaccine for the worksite?

What are the key messages employers should share with employees?

How should sick leave & other policies be adapted?

Are their special contamination & cleaning processes that should be implemented?

Where are credible resources for additional information?

Who should receive the H1N1 vaccine? Encourage every employee to get the seasonal flu vaccine.

Employees falling into the following Priority Population should receive the seasonal flu andthe H1N1 vaccine.

o Pregnant women;o People who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age;o Healthcare and emergency medical services personnel;o Persons between the ages of 6 months and 24 years old;o People ages of 25 through 64 years of age have chronic health disorders or

compromised immune systems such as: Cancer Diabetes Heart disease Kidney disorders Blood disorders (including sickle cell disease) Neurological disorders (including nervous system or spinal cord) Liver disorders Chronic lung disease (including asthma, COPD) Neuromuscular disorders (including muscular dystrophy & MS) Weakened immune systems (including people with AIDS)


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Employees in high priority populations should seek an H1N1 vaccine from the following:o Primary care providero Memphis Shelby County Health Department (MSCHD)o Other firms such as pharmacies may make it available at some point

Employers will not receive the H1N1 vaccine until the priority populations have beenvaccinated.

Memphis Shelby County Health Department (MSCHD) is working with the public schooldistricts and parochial schools to provide vaccines through the schools.o Vaccination programs for private schools are still in the planning stages.o DeSoto County, MS Schools will provide vaccines for their students.o All school-based vaccination programs are voluntary.o For other states, check with the local health department in that state about plans to

vaccinate students through their schools.

How does an employer obtain the H1N1 vaccine for the worksite? What is the best option for employers to obtain H1N1 vaccines?

o In Tennessee the employer can enroll in TWIS if they have an occupational healthstaff (physician) and the vaccine will be shipped directly to the employer. Thewebsite to enroll is http://twis.tn.gov .

o If the employer utilizes a contractor for seasonal flu shots (e.g. Methodist, ShotNurse etc), the MSCHD recommends that employers work with their contractor toobtain the H1N1 vaccine. The vaccine will be shipped directly to the contractor.

o Based on our current understanding, Baptist Health Services Group (BHSG) does notplan to order H1N1 vaccines for worksites. If you have used BHSG for your seasonalflu vaccines, we recommend you contact BHSG to confirm their H1N1 policy.

If needed, MBGH can help connect you with another H1N1 supplier.

Does the vaccine require special storage?o The vaccine must be refrigerated. The occupational health staff or the contractor will

receive storage instructions.

Are there special requirements for record keeping and reporting?o The specific requirements for record keeping and reporting will be specified in the

TWIS system upon registration.o If the employer utilizes a contractor, the contractor will do the record keeping and

reporting Is there a charge for the H1N1 vaccine?

o There is no charge for the H1N1 vaccine itself. The federal government is paying 100% of the cost of the vaccine.

o There may be an administration fee charged by the organization administering thevaccine.

o Employers are encouraged to cover H1N1 vaccines through their health plan or TPAand, if possible, waive any co-pay or co-insurance.


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Will the H1N1 vaccine be given in 2 injections?o Currently, it has not been determined that 2 injections will be required.

When will the first vaccine shipments begin?o mid October and will continue for at least six months

Can employers vaccinate employees who work outside of the Memphis area?o Yes. The only requirement is that you are their employer.

o If the employer has employees in MS, AR, and TN then the employer should count allof these employees on the TWIS site or in the count given to your Memphis-areavaccine contractor.

o For locations outside of the greater Memphis area, work through your vaccinecontractor in that area or register through that states Department of Health if youplan to take direct receipt of the vaccines.

What are the key messages employers should share with employees? Get a seasonal flu vaccine.

Get an H1N1 vaccine when it becomes available.

Practice respiratory etiquette: Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or

sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.

Practice frequent hand washing with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use

an alcohol-based hand rub.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.

Stay home if you are sick. CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school andlimit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

Consider ways to communicate with employees who do not speak English or those withdisabilities.

Go to www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/business/toolkit for already developed worksite communications

material & suggested strategies

How should sick leave & other policies be adapted? Review/develop flexible, non- punitive and well-communicated leave policies.

Understand your organizations seasonal flu absenteeism and prepare for an increase.

Allow workers who have the flu to stay home and away from co-workers without fear ofreprisals.

Plan to have workers stay home if they have to care for sick family members.

Be prepared in the event that there are closures of schools and child care programs. Allowworkers flexible schedules or other accommodations so they can be with their children and

keep them safe at home.

Encourage employees who perform essential functions and who have children to plan for

contingencies should local child care programs close or schools dismiss students.


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Be prepared for prolonged absenteeism if schools dismiss students for an extended time.

Strongly recommend that parents not bring their children with them to work while schools are

dismissed.

Instruct employees who are well but who have an ill family member at home with the flu that

they can go to work as usual. These employees should monitor their health every day, and

notify their supervisor and stay home if they become ill. Employees who have a certain

underlying medical condition or who are pregnant should promptly call their health careprovider for advice if they become ill.

If an employee does become sick while at work, place the employee in a separate room or

area, away from other workers, until they can go home. If the employee needs to go into acommon area prior to leaving, he or she should cover coughs/sneezes with a tissue or wear a

facemask if available and tolerable. Ask the employee to go home as soon as possible.

Do not require a doctors note for an employee to return to work after an illness. Doctors willbe focusing on treating those currently with H1N1 and will not be able to see employees to

clear them to return to work.

Employees should stay home at least 24 hours after all symptoms are gone without the useof a fever-reducing medicine

o Employees infected with seasonal and 2009 H1N1 flu shed virus and may be able toinfect others from 1 day before getting sick to 5 to 7 days after. This can be longer insome people, especially children and people with weakened immune systems and inpeople infected with the H1N1 virus.

Explore ways for essential business functions to continue.

o Implement flexible workplace policies like tele-working, staggered shifts or working

from home with appropriate infrastructure support.

o Cross-train employees to cover essential functions.

o Identify essential employees, essential business functions, and other critical inputs(e.g. raw materials, suppliers, subcontractor services/products, and logistics) requiredto maintain business operations and make plans on how to communicate with peoplethat perform essential tasks to provide them assignments and work direction.

Check out Federal Employment Laws for employers that are impacted by H1N1

http://pandemicflu.gov/professional/business/federalemploymentlaws_employers.html


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Are their special contamination & cleaning processes that should be implemented?

How long can influenza virus remain viable on objects (such as books and doorknobs)?o Studies have shown that influenza virus can survive on environmental surfaces and

can infect a person for 2 to 8 hours after being deposited on the surface.

What kills influenza virus?o Influenza virus is destroyed by heat (167-212F [75-100C]). In addition, several

chemical germicides, including chlorine, hydrogen peroxide, detergents (soap),iodophors (iodine-based antiseptics), and alcohols are effective against human fluviruses if used in proper concentration for a sufficient length of time.

What if soap and water are not available and alcohol-based products are not allowed in myfacility?

o If soap and water are not available and alcohol-based products are not allowed, otherhand sanitizers that do not contain alcohol may be useful.

What surfaces are most likely to be sources of contamination?

o Keep frequently touched common surfaces clean, such as telephones, computerkeyboards, doorknobs, etc.

o Do not use other workers phones, desks, offices, or other work tools and equipment.

If you need to use a co-workers phone, desks, or other equipment, clean it first.

Go to http://pandemicflu.gov/professional/hospital/influenzaguidance.html#app for additionalinformation.

What are credible resources for additional information?

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/business/

http://pandemicflu.gov/professional/business/index.html

www.flu.gov

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/business/toolkit/

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/h1n1flu/

http://pandemicflu.gov/professional/hospital/influenzaguidance.html#app

http://pandemicflu.gov/professional/business/federalemploymentlaws_employers.html

Disclaimer: The Memphis Business Group on Health (MBGH) is pleased to make this information, including all web sitesaccessed, available to readers. However, the MBGH does not render legal or consultation services, and legal counselmust be consulted to determine any materials applicability to any specific situation. Use of such information is at the riskof the accessing user and the accessing user assumes all liabilities that may result from such use.

Memphis Business Group on Health

5050 Poplar Avenue, Suite 509

Memphis, TN 38157

9017679585 x234

www.memphisbusinessgroup.org

MBGH Reports Worksite H1N1 Program Complete

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