Haarlem, October 9, 2023 – This week, the directors of Zorgbalans, Sint Jacob and Kennemerhart, among others, received the flu shot. With this they want to motivate their colleagues in healthcare to also get vaccinated. This is to protect their vulnerable clients, their healthcare colleagues and themselves. Healthcare organizations offer the flu shot free of charge to their employees and volunteers.
Free flu shot for all employees
Anyone can get the flu or corona and pass the virus on to others. If you work in healthcare, it is therefore extra important to get vaccinated. After all, healthcare workers often come into (close) contact with others and are therefore more likely to become infected with the flu or coronavirus and transmit it to vulnerable clients. As a result, people with diabetes, lung or heart disease or a generally compromised immune system can develop pneumonia, or in the worst case, even die. Vaccination reduces the chance of getting the flu or corona. Just like other preventive measures such as good hand hygiene. That is why the directors of the organizations mentioned, just like the Spaarne Gasthuis and the Red Cross Hospital, call on all healthcare workers to protect themselves against the flu virus and offer a free flu vaccination to their employees and volunteers at their various healthcare locations in October and November. The vaccination for the corona repeat injection is done via the GGD.
How the flu vaccination works
The annual flu vaccination protects against most flu viruses. Every year there are different virus variants and the World Health Organization (WHO) advises every year on the composition of the flu shot. It is therefore necessary to get a new vaccination every year. To properly protect clients in healthcare institutions, it is not enough to just vaccinate them. Vaccination often provides less good protection for the elderly due to advancing age. The flu virus can also be transmitted by someone who does not (yet) have any complaints (Source: GGD). This underlines the importance of a high vaccination rate.
Reduce joint risk
People who get a flu shot not only protect themselves, their clients and colleagues, but also their family members. Especially if they have young children or someone in the family who belongs to the risk group. Getting the flu shot does not rule out that someone will become ill, but it has been shown that the chance of getting the flu is reduced. The flu then becomes milder and the risk of complications, such as pneumonia, is smaller. By jointly calling on all healthcare employees to get the flu shot, including with promotional material such as videos, posters and information, the healthcare organizations in the Kennemerland region hope to significantly increase the vaccination rate among their employees..
Carolien Koning, director of Kennemerhart: ‘Especially now that elderly care is under pressure due to financial and staff shortages and our clients are becoming increasingly older and more vulnerable, it is extremely important that we work together, including regionally, to ensure that infections remain at bay. This applies to the flu, but also to other viruses such as corona. This year we hope that as many healthcare workers, volunteers and clients as possible will register for the free flu shot. I’ve already received the shot.’
GGD Kennemerland also endorses the importance of getting the flu shot for healthcare workers.
The corona repeat injection
In addition to getting the flu shot, the importance of the corona repeat shot is also brought to the attention of healthcare workers. The symptoms of both viruses initially appear similar, but the vaccinations are different. The corona vaccination is offered by the GGD and people over 60 and healthcare workers can schedule an appointment via planjeprik.nl.
It is safe to take both vaccinations one after the other or even at the same time (source RIVM).
2023-10-09 12:23:35
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