Salem Health suits up against the flu

Influenza vaccination for health care workers is one of the focus areas in Healthy People 2020, a nationwide set of health priorities and objectives. By 2015, the goal is to have 80 percent of all health care workers vaccinated against the flu, and 90 percent by 2020.Salem Health employed many of the strategies health care employers across the country use to promote vaccination. Multiple vaccination clinics were planned. Mobile vaccination carts met employees on their turf. And starting last week, those who weren't vaccinated were required to wear masks.Oregon's law states health care employers must provide preventive immunization for infectious diseases for free, but prohibits them from requiring their workers to get vaccinated. Salem Health asks its employees to either get vaccinated or to submit a form indicating they decline to get vaccinated and why.It was also the first Spandex Costume time that I was flying out of India. I was a little nervous. 

The data then gets submitted to the state, per Oregon statute. While this policy hasn't changed, Salem Health has used its flashy football-themed campaign to improve participation.As of this week, 267 people have formally rejected flu shots. Another 190 had neither gotten their shot nor submitted declination forms.The state has been publishing data on vaccination rates among health care workers for about four years. Dr. Paul Cieslak, medical director of the Oregon Immunization Program, said data collection has been helpful in improving transparency for consumers and pushing health care organizations to be more proactive in improving their vaccination rates."The spotlight is on them, which makes it more likely for them to inform their employees about it," Cieslak said.See where you're doing well and use that information to help you with your next project Cheap corsets so that you know what to focus on first. "It gets the talk going." 

The report shows data on hospitals, long-term care facilities and ambulatory surgical centers. Hospitals had the highest average rate last season, at 71 percent.And some communities have ventured into zentai predictive policing, patrolling an area when an algorithm predicts a crime might happen. Long-term care facilities had the lowest rate, at 54 percent.Marion County Health Department health officer Dr. Karen Landers said the improvement of Salem Health's vaccination rate is good news for the health of the community at large.Landers said she'd like to see flu vaccination become as prioritized as hand-washing in health care facilities — everyone who is able should get vaccinated annually.