The Cooper employee flu vaccination program will begin on Monday, September 18, 2017. We will send out a schedule later this week in a separate email. We look forward to your full compliance as we work together to protect our staff and our patients from the transmission of flu.
Highlights of the policy for vaccination are as follows:
- All Cooper employees are required to have an annual influenza vaccination or sign a declination statement.
- Green ID badge stickers will be given to those employees who receive the flu vaccination. Yellow ID badge stickers will be given to those employees who sign a declination statement.
- Employees who are not vaccinated are required to wear a surgical mask while in clinical areas to prevent spread of the virus.
- The full policy is on the Cooper Employee Portal in the Cooper Policy Network. The schedule of vaccination dates will be published on the portal as well.
- All employees must adhere to the policy by December 1, 2017, or by an earlier date if identified by Infection Control.
- Employees who receive the vaccination at private physician offices, public clinics, etc., must submit proof of immunization to Employee Health to receive a green sticker.
- Managers who have employees out on a leave of absence: Employees will receive a letter at home instructing them that they must either provide proof that they received their flu vaccine elsewhere or visit Employee Health before returning to work.
This year, Cooper will administer the quadrivalent influenza vaccine for all employees and patients who opt to get vaccinated. This is a newer intramuscular vaccine that provides protection against four different strains of influenza virus, including two influenza A viruses and two influenza B viruses. This vaccine is expected to provide better protection for our employees and patients and is just as safe as the trivalent vaccine we have administered in previous years, which only protected against three different influenza strains.
You will receive notification of the actual start of flu season once it is declared.
Please note, inpatients will begin to receive flu vaccinations on September 25, 2017, as required by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
If you have any questions or concerns about the policy, please contact Infection Prevention at 856.342.2254. For questions regarding the schedule of flu vaccinations, please page Employee Health nurses at 856.205.3032 or 856.205.3176, then dial your full telephone number in after the beep, and hang up. Someone will return your call.