I agree with you Sharon!

 

Hygiene, hygiene, hygiene!

 

Flu viruses live on the skin for 5 mins, on clothes for 2 hours and on hard surfaces for 24 hours!

 

Anyone that has the virus and is confirmed as meeting the criteria will be screened by the HPA.

 

Hygiene is the most effective weapon we have against the virus and we must encourage hand washing as appropriate!

 

I am on call already to screen and advise potentially infected health care workers for the whole of the weekend! I somehow don’t think I’ll be very busy but I’ll let you know!

 

Neil

 

 

It is impossible to vaccinate the population against the spread of pandemic flu because a vaccine cannot be made in advance of the virus being identified. As the virus will be a new strain, a vaccine must be developed specifically to match this. Thus existing flu vaccines will be ineffective in the case of a pandemic. (please note that I did lift this more or less directly from another source)

In addition - cant see that the employer will have access to vaccines/antivirals unless its an essential service like police/healthcare workers/paramedics

You`re not being naive - the contingency plan is. Much more useful to concentrate on general hygiene, avoiding contact and how the business will be run in the event overwhelming sickness absence

 

From: [log in to unmask] [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Gail Collins
Sent: 29 April 2009 15:03
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [OCC-HEALTH] Pandemic flu contingency plan details

Hi All
I have just read a proposed contingency plan in the event of pandemic flu - it is one that is recommended from a national HR company
In it, it proposes that OH services are involved in planning and 'encourage a high take up of annual influenza vaccinations amongst employees where appropriate'
I am a little puzzled
Can anyone point me in the direction of research that supports the use of flu vaccines in the healthy working population
it also recommends prioritising staff for vaccines and antiviral medication
In a pandemic wont the population be provided with antivirals on assessment by medical staff in NHS and not by employer?
 Will the employer be required to have enough antivirals ?
Am I being naïve or unprepared?

Help/opinions please


Kind regards
Gail
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