Fighting Influenza

Members of the AzHHA Public Relations Roundtable work together with key stakeholders to promote flu vaccination with the public and healthcare professionals.

During the flu season, it is particularly important that hospital caregivers receive the flu vaccine as the situation is compounded by the presence of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

FLU INFORMATION RESOURCES:

2007/2008 Flu Surveillance Updates
The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) posts regular updates on its Web site regarding flu activity in Arizona. For the latest report, go to www.azdhs.gov/flu/ and click on "Arizona Influenza Surveillance" at the left. The site also contains a link to the CDC's weekly flu activity report.

Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Seasonal Flu Information
THE CDC Web site at www.cdc.gov/flu/whatyoushouldknow.htm contains a wealth of information on seasonal influenza, vaccines, good health habits, flu symptoms and treatment.

HEALTHCARE PROVIDER EDUCATION:

According to a report by the National Foundation of Infectious Diseases (NFID), healthcare workers are frequently implicated as the source of the flu in healthcare settings. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) advises that the single best way to reduce flu transmission in healthcare settings is through the increased use of influenza vaccine. However, the CDC has found that an average of 64 percent of healthcare workers do not receive the flu vaccine each year. AzHHA has developed a list of resources to help hospitals increase the numbers of employees receiving flu vaccines.

We have developed a Flu Vaccine Initiative Timeline for your assistance in coordinating your own flu season initiatives.

Influenza Immunization Among Healthcare Workers PDF

Brochure
The NFID has produced a four-page brochure entitled Call to Action: Influenza Immunization Among Health Care Workers that may be used as an information resource and/or distributed to hospital staff. The brochure may be downloaded in PDF format at www.nfid.org/publications




Strategic Planning Resources


The NFID has also produced a 24-page booklet called Improving Influenza Vaccination Rates in Health Care Workers. It contains important facts and strategies for protecting healthcare workers and their patients. Visit www.nfid.org/publications to download a copy of the brochure in PDF format.

Ad/Poster for Employee Communications
The Arizona Partnership for Immunization (TAPI) has created an ad that may be used in internal employee communications and/or as a poster to emphasize how important it is for healthcare professionals to receive the flu vaccine to protect their patients.

Flu Poster

Internal Employee Communications Articles

Influenza and Patients with Diabetes and Asthma

The following documents can also be downloaded in PDF format from the NFID Web site at www.nfid.org/publications:

Improving Influenza Vaccination Rates in Adults and Children with Diabetes (PDF)

Call to Action: Influenza and Children with Asthma (PDF)

PATIENT EDUCATION

Faces of Influenza Campaign
The American Lung Association operates an educational Web site at www.facesofinfluenza.org that is designed to put a face on influenza in the United States and show firsthand the seriousness of this potentially deadly infectious disease. The site features portraits of famous and not-so-famous Americans who represent each of the influenza high-risk groups. The site also includes three Public Service Announcements (15 seconds, 30 seconds and a minute) featuring actress Jennifer Garner.

Placemat/Tray Liner Campaign (PDF)
Put flu fighting information on the table for your staff and visitors via a flu education placemat created by The Arizona Partnership for Immunization (TAPI). The tray liner theme is "Protect Yourself . . . Protect Others." You may order preprinted "generic" versions of the placemats, request artwork to personalize and print or have TAPI personalize them and print them at a cost by visiting at http://www.whyimmunize.org/store.php or contacting Jennifer Tinney, TAPI program coordinator at jennifer@aachc.org or 602-288-7567.

Free Posters
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is offering a variety of flu vaccine posters free of charge. Posters targeting parents, seniors, and individuals with chronic health conditions are available in English and Spanish at www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/flugallery/

Flu Education Toolkit
The Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) has produced a Flu Education Toolkit for use in healthcare settings. The kits include a variety of posters, flyers, brochures and tips designed to education the public about preventing the spread of flu. You may view and download the toolkit at http://www.azdhs.gov/flu/flu_toolkit.htm. Spanish versions are available for most of the materials.

Flu Resources

Arizona Flu Information Hotline
Community Information & Referral (www.cir.org) is operating The Flu and Pneumonia Hotline to assist the public in locating facilities that are offering flu vaccines. The numbers are 602-363-8856 and 800-352-3792.

Organizations participating in the AzHHA Flu & ED PR Work Group:

  • Ambulatory and Urgent Care Association of Arizona
  • Arizona Association of Community Health Center
  • Arizona Department of Health Services
  • Arizona Medical Association
  • Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center
  • Banner Health
  • Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center
  • Carondelet Health Network
  • Carondelet Holy Cross Hospital - Nogales
  • Flagstaff Medical Center
  • John C. Lincoln Hospital
  • Maricopa County Public Health Department
  • Paradise Valley Hospital
  • Phoenix Children's Hospital
  • Scottsdale Healthcare
  • St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center
  • Tempe St. Luke's Hospital
  • The Arizona Partnership for Immunization
  • Yuma Regional Medical Center