Employee flu shot clinics underway

Asante’s annual employee flu immunization campaign is underway with vaccination clinics on hospital campuses. To reduce the risk of COVID transmission, employees who work outside the hospitals are encouraged to get their shots at clinics for remote workers, at an Asante pharmacy or Asante Urgent Care in Grants Pass, or through their Asante primary care provider.

Employees are asked to not come in groups and stand six feet apart while waiting. Several flu-shot clinics are scheduled on each campus with unit rounding planned throughout the fall.

Tables are set up in hospital open areas, so employees can get immunized on the spot, no appointment needed. Asante Physician Partners and Asante Contact Center employees will be offered flu shots at their facilities.

Key points to note:

• Employees are required to complete a flu education module in ALEC (HealthStream) by Oct. 31.
• All vaccinated employees, volunteers, students and medical staff will receive a 2021–2022 badge ring indicating they received the flu shot.
• Masking is required in all Asante facilities in accordance with the Universal Pandemic Precautions policy.
• Employees who cannot or choose not to get a flu shot must submit a declination form to Asante Employee Health by Nov. 30.
• The same deadline applies for those who got a flu shot elsewhere and need to submit an attestation form to get their badge ring.

To ensure that at least 90% of our employees are immunized — the goal Asante has set to ensure “herd immunity” — dozens of employees are participating in the clinics and rounding on various work units and departments to administer the vaccine to small groups.

It is important to note that employees who report flu-like symptoms are tested for both influenza and COVID-19, which could prolong the time it takes to be cleared to return to work. A flu shot can help prevent that added complication.

Patients are already being screened for flu, so Asante Infection Prevention encourages employees to be immunized well before the flu season starts to help limit the spread of influenza. To learn more, check out the 2021-2022 flu season FAQs.

Employee flu shot clinics*

Monday, Nov. 1

ARRMC — 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Rambling Rogue Cafe

Tuesday, Nov. 2

ARRMC — 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Rambling Rogue Cafe

*Hours may change due to staffing availability. Teams will round in hospitals throughout October and into November. Employees also are encouraged to get their flu shot and badge ring at an Asante Pharmacy, Asante Employee Health or from their Asante primary care provider.