I Got My Flu Shot! How About You?For me, the decision is not, whether to get a flu shot - but rather, when? and where? Influenza is one nanobug I really want to avoid - I hate having my sleep interrupted with all that coughing. And fever and body ache are not my thing either. Last year I went to a local grocery store and I waited in a long line to get my flu shot before I traveled to Japan. The year before that it was at the Walgreen's store 5 blocks from my home - short walk but long wait when I got there. Today I went on a tour of LifePointe, a new health club and spa which is associated with BryanLGH Medical Center - a former employer of mine. They offered flu shots at this gorgeous facility from 9-5 - so while I was there, I just took care of business - It involved $20 , no wait and no pain. As I drove home, I reminisced about my former role as infection control coordinator for Lincoln General Hospital (the name before the merger). My job included enhancing employee compliance with the hospital's influenza immunization program. I would always try to be the first injectee and get the hospital photographer to document my compliance. The photo would be published in the hospital internal newspaper along with my invitation to fellow employees to get their shot too. One year I made a really dramatic facial expression for the picture to be funny and to prove that it was a fresh experience and not just a previous photo submitted again. Some years, I was able to secure funding for some little bribes to increase compliance - like a coupon for a free cup of coffee in the cafeteria for anyone who got a flu shot. Kinda crazy - the shots are offered free to employees and then we bribed them to take the free gift. Most Japanese hospitals give flu shots to employees but they are not always free. This year Nanobugs, inc. sold influenza tattoos to a number of hospitals to offer as a reward to employees who get a flu shot. (The tattoos are high quality, non-toxic and made in the USA.)
If you apply the tattoo to your forearm, it will last about 10-14 days - the same length of time it takes to develop full immunity after vaccination - makes a nice reminder. Flu shots are absolutely essential for hospital employees and other healthcare workers. People who are already sick and immune-system challenged, should not be exposed to caregivers who are sick with influenza or incubating the infection and communicable. Additionally, from a human resources perspective, it is important to have employees well and on the job during the flu season when the hospital census increases. If you are a healthcare worker or medical professional or childcare provider or a family member of someone who is elderly or has a chronic illness, then get in line somewhere in the next 2-4 weeks and get your flu shot. Don't procrastinate. Do it today: Celebrate International Infection Prevention Week with a shot in the arm. Tips for the wimps and the high achievers: #1. When you get the injection, support your elbow and keep the muscles in your upper arm relaxed. And don't watch. It will be almost painless. #2. After you get the shot, try to get more rest for 1-2 nights. The body can focus more on the business of making antibodies if you don't keep it up late or stress it to the max. Use this immunization event as an excuse to treat yourself nice for at least a day.
This entry was posted on October 19th, 2007 at 7:01 am. RSS
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