Whether you’re a health care professional at a local clinic or a state hospital, you play a significant role in helping protect your patients against influenza. Because of the disease’s severity, flu season can create a monumental burden on the healthcare system. However, preparation and patient outreach during flu season will allow your facility to better compete in a crowded marketplace, all while protecting the health of your patients.

There are several ways in which your clinic can better protect patients of all ages. Some of these strategies include promoting and administering annual influenza vaccines, updating and adhering to your clinic’s policies, and proper vaccine storage and handling.

Annual Influenza Vaccine

The annual influenza vaccine is the best way to help protect the public from the flu. Influenza vaccination can offer substantial benefits and reduce the likelihood of severe outcomes, including hospitalization and death. Pharmacists play a critical role in protecting patients against influenza and influenza-related complications by advocating for and administering influenza vaccines. The key is to facilitate productive conversations with your patients, which in turn will improve influenza vaccination rates.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends that everyone ages 6 months and older receive a flu vaccine every year. The annual flu vaccine has many benefits for patients of all ages including reducing the risk of flu illnesses, hospitalizations, and the risk of flu-related death in children. Flu vaccines develop antibodies in the body about two weeks after vaccination. These antibodies help provide protection against infection with the viruses that are used to make the vaccine.

Those most vulnerable to the flu include:

• Adults over the age of 65.
• Immunocompromised individuals, such as those with HIV, hepatitis, and cancer.
• Individuals who live with or care for the immunocompromised or elderly.
• Pregnant women.
• Individuals with chronic medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, and lung disease.
• Individuals with any of the following signs/symptoms: fever, cough, sore throat, runny or congested nose, body aches, chills, fatigue, nausea and/or vomiting, and/or diarrhea.

How do you prevent the spread of the flu?

It’s important to keep the following points in mind when educating staff, patients, and visitors:

• Always cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
• Clean your hands often—especially before entering, and after exiting, patient care areas, and rooms.
• Use soap and water to wash your hands or an alcohol-based sanitizer to disinfect your hands.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Get your flu shot each year.

Influenza Policies

Most healthcare facilities have policies in place that limit visitors during the flu season. For example, children under the age of 12 cannot enter the facility or visit patient care areas because of their likelihood to carry viruses without showing signs or symptoms.

Here are some questions your healthcare facility should consider when updating and enforcing influenza policies:

• Have policies been reviewed and updated to plan for the upcoming flu season?
• Will your facility implement visitor restrictions? What will trigger these restrictions (e.g., level of flu in the community, number of tests your lab is performing)?
• What type of visitor restrictions will your facility implement and where, if applicable (e.g., children 12 and under, facility-wide, intensive care units, transplant units, oncology units)?
• Are full season signs and education materials available for staff, patients, and visitors? These tools can be especially helpful when visitor restrictions have been implemented.
• Are alcohol-based hand rub, tissues, and masks readily available for all staff, visitors, and patients?
• Have staff been educated about the upcoming flu season policy and visitor restrictions, if applicable?
• Are healthcare workers discouraged from coming to work sick?

Regardless of what your healthcare facility’s policies may be, it’s important to update them according to federal and state guidelines and enforce them for the wellbeing of your patients, staff, fellow healthcare professionals, and community.

Proper Vaccine Storage and Handling 

Proper vaccine storage and handling play critical roles in protecting patients from vaccine-preventable diseases. Vaccines must be stored properly from the time they are manufactured until they are administered. If the cold chain is not properly maintained, the vaccine loses potency, resulting in a useless vaccine supply and a waste of money. Consequently, patients can lose confidence in vaccines and providers if they require revaccination due to compromised vaccines. That’s why it’s essential to have portable medical refrigeration units on hand to store vaccines.

Proper storage and handling begin with an effective vaccine cold chain. A cold chain is a temperature-controlled supply chain that includes all vaccine-related equipment and procedures.

The cold chain is as follows:

1. It begins with the cold storage unit at the manufacturing plant;
2. extends to the transport and delivery of the vaccine;
3. includes correct storage at the provider facility; and
4. ends with the administration of the vaccine to the patient.

Medical grade refrigerators and freezers are specifically designed for the safe storage of vaccines including influenza, varicella, MMR, Zoster, rotavirus, and typhoid. It is essential that all medical fridges in your facility meet current federal and state guidelines for the safe storage of vaccines. Improper vaccine storage and handling can result in a heightened risk for patient sickness and infection, financial loss, and the public’s distrust in your facility.

How FridgeFreeze Can Help

FridgeFreeze Inc. manufactures the most durable and efficient portable refrigerators and freezers available for medical vaccines. We carry a variety of UL Listed refrigerator/freezers specially built for precise temperature control within medical and scientific facilities. For questions or to place your order, contact FridgeFreeze today. Let our experts help you find the right products to meet your needs.