Health Unit Says “Let’s Fight Flu”

Pete Fisher
5 years ago
• Categories: Local

Health Unit Expands Challenge to Encourage More Health Care Workers to Get Annual Flu Shots –

When it comes to getting a flu shot, local health care workers are being challenged to do even better.

That’s the challenge the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit is extending this fall to health care workers in Northumberland County, Haliburton County and City of Kawartha Lakes.

The Health Unit’s ‘Let’s Fight Flu’ Challenge is back for a second year – and newly expanded. Workers at five hospitals, 20 retirement homes and 20 long-term care homes in the area are being asked to get their annual flu shots to earn top bragging rights in the Let’s Fight Flu Challenge.

In the process, they will not only be protecting themselves and their loved ones from influenza, but also the patients and residents in their care, says the Health Unit’s Medical Officer of Health.

“Health care workers provide important care to vulnerable patients and residents who are experiencing serious health issues, so it’s important they get their flu shot early each year,” says Dr. Lynn Noseworthy, of the HKPR District Health Unit.

“Flu shots are safe and effective. By offering the Let’s Fight Flu Challenge for a second year, we hope to give health care workers extra reason to get their flu shots.”

In 2019, the Health Unit’s Let’s Fight Flu Challenge was only offered to hospitals in Cobourg, Campbellford, Lindsay, Haliburton and Minden. But given the tremendous interest and improved influenza vaccination rates it generated, the Challenge has been expanded this year to also include local retirement homes and long-term care homes.

The Health Unit will again offer incentives and promotional materials to support the health care facilities in promoting the flu shot to their staff this fall.

Then in early 2020, the Health Unit will recognize the winning facilities in each category that score the highest flu vaccination rate among its staff for the coming 2019/20 influenza season.

The Health Unit will also honour the facilities that see the highest, year-over-year percentage increase in staff flu vaccination rates.