The health unit that serves Northumberland County is challenging its health care workers to “get the flu shot.”
The “Let’s Fight the Flu” Challenge is back for a second year.
Workers at five hospitals, 20 retirement homes and 20 long-term care homes within the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District are being asked to get their annual flu shots.
Public Health Nurse Shelley White tells Quinte News the idea is to encourage facilities to increase their numbers from last year.
White points to Campbellford Hospital as an example.
Medical Officer of Health Dr. Lynn Noseworthy says “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.”
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.
Early next year, the health unit will recognize the winning facilities in each category that score the highest flu vaccination rate among its staff for the 2019-2020 influenza season.
The Health Unit will also honour the facilities that see the highest, year-over-year percentage increase in staff flu vaccination rates.
