Officials at the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance have had to rally the workers to get their flu shots but say some are still refusing them.
A memo sent to all staff December 18 states "currently we have a healthcare worker vaccination rate of 40% at Chatham-Kent Health Alliance. This rate is concerning, especially if an Influenza outbreak were to occur." However, Janet DeActis, CKHA's Director of Occupational Health and Safety, says the 44% rate at the end of December is about average and has jumped to 51% at the start of January.
DeActis says hospital workers are taking an antiviral medication used to treat and prevent influenza called Tamiflu to be able to work in the outbreak areas and are reassigned if they refuse both the flu shot and the Tamiflu pill.
"There's been some adjustment in people's schedules to make sure our patients are well cared for and our units are staffed," says DeActis.
Flu restrictions are over on the fourth-floor Complex Continuing Care Unit at CKHA but are still in place at the Stroke and Rehab Unit and Medicine Unit B. CKHA says this flu season is putting greater pressure on hospital beds.
DeActis says 87 hospital workers are taking Tamiflu and proper staffing continues to be in place.
"The staff complement appears to be being met and we are adjusting to meet the situation in a safe manner," DeActis says.
President and CEO Lori Marshall says hospital workers cannot be forced to get a flu shot but is urging people to get it.
"We don't have staffing issues related to people either not being vaccinated or not taking Tamiflu. We do, though, have some sick calls," says Marshall.
