September 30, 2014

10114Flushots640

Tens of thousands of people die each year from the flu. Although anyone can be affected, the elderly and young children – like the ones treated at Texas Children’s – are most susceptible to the illness.

Each year, an average of 20,000 children under the age of 5 are hospitalized because of influenza complications, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Last flu season, more than 100 flu-related pediatric deaths were reported.

The best way to prevent the flu is by getting vaccinated each year. Many Texas Children’s patients, however, are too sick to receive the vaccination, which makes protecting yourself even more vital.

“We would never want to expose anyone to the flu,” Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer Lori Armstrong said. “We have a responsibility to keep every patient healthy.”

About 4,000 Texas Children’s employees already have taken one for the team and gotten their flu vaccine. Now it’s your turn to do what’s right for you and your patients.

Employee Health is administering free seasonal influenza vaccinations to all Texas Children’s employees, Baylor College of Medicine employees working in Texas Children’s facilities, Texas Children’s medical staff and volunteers. Leaders from Texas Children’s Pediatrics, Texas Children’s Health Centers and The Center for Women and Children will inform their staff about seasonal flu vaccination details.

Click here to view vaccination schedules for both Main and West Campuses. Employee Health strongly encourages you to get your vaccine at one of the times listed on the schedule. If you are unable to do so, please schedule an appointment to get the flu vaccine at the Employee Health Clinic after Wednesday, October 1.

And, remember, getting an annual flu shot is part of Texas Children’s P3 incentive plan, which is an important component of the total rewards you receive at Texas Children’s Hospital. As part of P3 , we are striving for at least 90 percent of our staff to get vaccinated by Monday, December 1. As of September 30, we were less than half way there.

10114BWPregnantwoman640

By Dr. Carol Baker, vaccine and pediatric infectious disease specialist

As we prepare for cold and influenza (flu) season, which typically begins in late November or early December, getting a flu vaccine is the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones. But what if you are pregnant? Should you still get vaccinated?

The answer is simple: YES. Pregnant women should get vaccinated against the flu.

Pregnant women, especially in the second and third trimester, are more likely to have complications from flu, rarely even death. In fact, the flu can lead to serious problems for an unborn baby, including premature labor and delivery. Getting vaccinated protects against these bad outcomes and also protects the baby against flu until the baby first can be vaccinated at age six months.

The best way to protect yourself and your unborn child from influenza is to get vaccinated. And it’s important to remember that pregnant women should only get the flu shot, not the nasal spray, known as FluMist. (FluMist contains live virus and should not be given to pregnant women because it may not be safe.) The flu shot is available at most doctors’ offices and all local pharmacies.

It takes up to two weeks for inactivated influenza vaccine to become fully effective. So the best time to get this vaccine is as soon as it is available. Even a late vaccination can be beneficial because the flu season can last through March and April.

According the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), vaccination helps protect women during pregnancy and their babies for up to six months after they are born. One study showed that giving flu vaccine to pregnant women was 92 percent effective in preventing hospitalization of infants for flu.

As a pediatric infectious disease specialist and executive director of the Center for Vaccine Awareness and Research at Texas Children’s Hospital, I am dedicated to finding the best ways to stop children and their parents from getting preventable diseases. I know the dangers the flu can pose to pregnant women and their unborn children. So I urge you to disregard the myths and misperceptions that often circulate about the flu vaccine. The flu shot cannot cause a person to develop influenza because the virus in the vaccine has been killed.

During the 2013-14 flu season, about half of pregnant women protected themselves and their babies from flu by getting a flu shot. This is a significant progress. But almost half of pregnant women and their babies still remain unprotected from influenza. As I noted above, the flu shot is the single best way protect yourself and your family from the flu. Make sure to protect yourself and your baby – get vaccinated.

This website will help you find a location near you where you can get vaccinated. For more information about pregnant women and the flu, visit the CDC or download the PDF below by visiting here.

September 23, 2014

92414MAWflushot640

Flu season is right around the corner and leaders at Texas Children’s want you to protect yourself and your patients by getting a seasonal influenza vaccine.

Throughout this year’s flu season, you will hear from leaders across the organization about why you should get vaccinated and how you can encourage your co-workers to do the same. Texas Children’s CEO and President Mark A. Wallace delivers the first message of this year’s flu campaign here:

Quick, Easy, Free

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predicts this year’s flu season will begin in October but recommends people get vaccinated now to ensure they are protected, explaining it takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop and provide protection against the illness.

Texas Children’s is making that task quick, easy and free for all of its employees. Starting from 6:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 23, on The Auxiliary Bridge and from 6:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. and noon to 2 p.m. at West Campus’ lobby, Employee Health is administering free seasonal influenza vaccinations to Texas Children’s employees, Baylor College of Medicine employees working in Texas Children’s facilities, Texas Children’s medical staff and volunteers. Leaders from Texas Children’s Pediatrics, Texas Children’s Health Centers and The Center for Women and Children will inform their staff about seasonal flu vaccination details.

Click here to view future vaccination schedules for both Main and West Campuses. Employee Health strongly encourages you to get your vaccine at one of the times listed on the schedule. If you are unable to do so, please schedule an appointment to get the flu vaccine at the Employee Health Clinic after Wednesday, October 1.

P3 Incentive Plan

In addition to helping you stay healthy, getting an annual flu shot is part of Texas Children’s P3 incentive plan, which is an important component of the total rewards you receive at Texas Children’s Hospital. Employees working in other parts of Texas Children’s have their own incentive plans, all of which encourage workers to get a flu vaccine.

As part of P3, we are striving for at least 90 percent of our staff to get vaccinated. We were successful in achieving that goal last year, and organization leaders are confident that with YOUR support we’ll reach our goal again this year.

“Getting your flu vaccine is a big part of our compensation program, but most importantly, it’s about quality, service and safety for all of our patients, families and for you,” Texas Children’s President and CEO Mark A. Wallace said. “I’m going to get the flu vaccine and I want you to be right behind me.”

Additional information regarding Texas Children’s influenza vaccination policy can be found here. As a reminder, staff should be in compliance by Monday, December 1.