Preparing for the 2017/18 Outbreak Season Julie Holt, Supervisor, - - PDF document

2017-09-28 1 Julie Holt, Supervisor, Peel Public Health Region of Peel

Preparing for the 2017/18 Outbreak Season

Outbreaks from our Previous Season

2016-17 Influenza Outbreaks 37 Influenza Outbreaks

• 33 Influenza A
• 3 Influenza B
• 1 Influenza A & B

Outbreak Type 2015-16 2016-17 Respiratory 37 73 Enteric 16 31 Total 53 104

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A few reminders

• Outbreak signage, specimen collection instructions, line

lists and guides are available for download at: www.peelregion.ca/cleanhands

• Order your respiratory viral and enteric outbreak

specimen kits direct from Public Health Ontario Laboratory (sample requisition available)

• Specimen transport bags will be available for facilities

that go into outbreak

If you suspect you are in outbreak please call 905-799-7700 ext. 2400

www.publichealthontario.ca

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Homes in Peel Region are a leader in staff immunization coverage!

The good news is…

Staff Influenza Immunization Coverage

Peel’s Average is 80%

15 homes have achieved 90% or more over the past 2 years Ontario’s average is 70% with neighbouring areas Halton and Toronto reporting around 72 - 76% coverage

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Panel Presentation

Silverthorn Care Community Streetsville Care Community Tall Pines Long Term Care Silverthorn Care Community

• Located in Erin Mills neighbourhood of

Mississauga

• 160 Residents
• 93% staff immunization rate

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Streetsville Care Community

• Located in Streetsville Mississauga
• 118 Residents
• 96% staff immunization rate

Tall Pines Long Term Care

• Located in North Brampton near

Brampton Civic Hospital

• 160 Residents
• 86% staff immunization rate

(60% when including volunteers)

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The following slides outline responses from the panel members as well as audience responses that were submitted

What are key factors that have contributed to your success in achieving high coverage rates at your facility?

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Common Successful Strategies

• Education, start early and lots of it!
• Availability of clinic times, mobile cart for ease of

access

• Prizes, giveaways, vacation days, incentives
• Peer champions to encourage staff to be vaccinated
• Recognition for vaccinated staff
• Senior leaders getting vaccinated
• Posters and displays
• Part of organizational culture to get vaccinated

What challenges have you faced along the way?

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Common Challenges

• Vaccine myths
• Fear of needles or fear of vaccine reactions
• Preference for alternatives to immunization
• “I never get sick” or “I got sick when I got the flu

shot”

• Fear of what could be in the vaccine
• Hard to do education and follow-up with casual,

and contracted staff

What unique or different strategies have you implemented to overcome some of these challenges?

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Unique Strategies

• Providing alternate methods of submitting records
• f vaccine (e.g. email)
• Calling/emailing/texting individual staff members to

remind them to get their vaccine

• Making it fun or a competition to have the most

staff vaccinated in their area

• Flexible hours for clinics
• Require flu vaccination as an expectation upon hire