2022-2023 Flu Information

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, reducing the spread of respiratory illnesses, such as influenza, is more important than ever. The CDC recommends that everyone, 6 months and older, get a flu vaccination in September or October. Thank you for taking precautions to prevent and reduce influenza transmission.

 
 
ill-298909_1920.jpg
 
nurse-37322_1280.png

Influenza Prevention and Control

All TCPS staff are responsible for implementing proper infection control procedures. Explore the hyperlinks below for more information about infection control methods.

  1. Get a flu vaccine

  2. Use proper hand hygiene

  3. Adhere to standard precautions for all client-care activities

  4. Use proper respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette

  5. Stay home if you are sick

  6. Continue to wear a mask during your shift.

  7. Complete temperature checks prior to patient contact.

  8. Avoid close contact with people who are sick.

  9. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.

  10. Practice other good health habits: Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces at home, work, or school, especially when someone is ill. Get plenty of sleep, be physically active, manage your stress, drink plenty of fluids, and eat nutritious food.

What to do if you are sick and scheduled to work

  • Stay home.

  • Call 970-686-5437 and notify the scheduler or on-call RN (if after business hours).

  • If you have flu-like symptoms but no diagnosis, you will need to rule out the possibility of having COVID-19.

  • If you have received an influenza diagnosis and have ruled out Covid-19, stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone (without the use of fever-reducing medicines), and after symptoms have improved (at least 4-5 days after flu symptoms started).

  • Keep the scheduler updated about your status and when you expect to be able to return to work.

  • Contact a clinical manager if you are unsure about when to return to work.

What to do if your client has flu symptoms

  • Keep your client’s case manager updated about the client’s condition; they can help determine next steps.

  • Follow standard, droplet, and contact precautions.

  • Properly clean/disinfect environmental surfaces and client care equipment.

  • Report symptoms of infection to other staff as appropriate (Case Manager, BPSR, etc.).

Influenza Vaccinations

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that all U.S. healthcare workers get vaccinated annually against influenza as soon as the vaccine becomes available.