Each subsidiary employee health clinic will hold flu vaccination days, have open walk-in hours and make rounds to the hospital clinical areas. Employees in non-clinical areas should watch the Flu Resource Page for flu clinic hours in your area.
Individuals wishing to decline vaccination will be required to sign an informed declination form stating their rationale for declining. Please submit completed documents to your local Employee Health office. Forms can be found on the McLaren Flu Resource Page or your local Employee Health Office.
Employee Health will accept outside documentation of flu vaccination. Please complete the appropriate form and return it to employee health at your subsidiary. Forms can be found on the McLaren Flu Resource Page or your local Employee Health Office.
If you would like more information on the vaccine, potential side effects, and what strains are in this year’s shot, check out the CDC’s Flu Vaccine page. It has tons of useful information.
Employee Influenza Frequently Asked Questions
What You Should Know about McLaren Health Care’s Flu Vaccine Program for the 2023/2024 Flu Season
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends annual influenza vaccination for everyone 6 months and older. Getting a flu vaccination is one of the most effective ways to help prevent unnecessary deaths and the spread of this preventable disease. At McLaren Health Care, we care about you, your family and our patients’ safety. We want everyone to be protected. Here are some frequently asked questions and the corresponding answers.
How does the flu spread?
People with flu can spread it to others. Influenza viruses are spread mainly by droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are up to about 6 feet away or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. Most healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 5 to 7 days after becoming sick. Children may pass the virus for longer. Symptoms start 1 to 4 days after the virus enters the body. That means that you may be able to pass the flu on to someone else BEFORE you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick. Some can be infected with the flu virus but have no symptoms. During this time, those persons may still spread the virus to others.
Can the flu vaccination actually cause the flu?
Flu vaccines CANNOT cause flu. Flu vaccines are made with either killed or weakened viruses.
Are flu vaccinations safe?
Flu vaccines are safe. Serious problems from a flu vaccine are very rare. The most common side effect that a person is likely to experience is soreness where the injection was given. This is generally mild and usually goes away after a day or two.
Visit Influenza Vaccine Safety at https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/vaccinesafety.htm for more information.
Who does the Flu Vaccination policy apply to? Who has to be vaccinated?
To ensure we are doing all we can to help our patients and employees live well and to protect their health and safety, McLaren requires ALL employees to participate in the annual flu campaign, either by receiving the annual flu vaccination or signing an informed declination. This policy applies to all active McLaren Health Care employees and health care professionals (corporate and subsidiary employees), including but not limited to physicians, dentists, podiatrists, psychologists, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants with privileges at any McLaren Health Care site. HCP also includes members of the medical staff at any McLaren site. Also included are contract employees, vendor representatives, students, volunteers, and independent contractors. Employees who are 100% remote are exempt.
Why should health care workers receive a flu vaccination?
Influenza illness and death are significant safety concerns. Annually, in the United States, influenza affects more than 20 percent of the population with millions of people getting the flu every year, hundreds of thousands of people are hospitalized and thousands or tens of thousands of people die from flu-related causes every year. Flu shots in health care workers can prevent transmission of influenza and save lives – resulting in as many as 40 percent fewer deaths.
Why is flu vaccination done annually?
Annual vaccination is important because influenza is unpredictable, flu viruses are constantly changing and immunity from vaccination declines over time. Since health care workers may care for or live with people at high risk for influenza-related complications, it is especially important for them to get vaccinated annually. CDC recommends an annual flu vaccine as the first and best way to protect against influenza. This recommendation is the same even during years when the vaccine composition (the viruses the vaccine protects against) remains unchanged from the previous season.
Why do I need to be vaccinated when I don’t have contact with patients?
If you work for McLaren, even if you do not have direct patient care responsibilities, you do have direct contact with those who care for patients and can easily transmit the flu.
I have a team member on a Leave of Absence, do they need to get the vaccination?
Employees on LOA will have an appropriate period based on their leave period after returning to work to provide proof of vaccination or sign an informed declination.
Should employees get their flu shot on worktime?
Leaders should allow time for employees to be vaccinated. If employees are receiving vaccination from an Employee Health Flu clinic, they should attend the clinic on work time. Remote employees are encouraged to receive the flu vaccination from a McLaren flu clinic closest to their home.
What if I am allergic to the vaccine or have a medical condition that prevents me from being vaccinated?
All vaccines administered by Employee Health are latex, mercury, and thimerosal (preservative) free. We will also be offering egg free vaccinations. If you have any other allergy or other medical condition preventing you from receiving vaccination, you will need to have a signed declination on file with your local Employee Health office. The declination form will be available on the McLaren Flu Resource Page or from your local Employee Health office. The signed declination must be filed with Employee Health by Dec. 1.
What if I have a religious concern with vaccines?
You will need to submit a signed declination. The declination form will be available on the McLaren Flu Resource Page or from your local Employee Health office.
What happens if I decline the vaccination?
Employees who do not receive the vaccination, provide documentation of immunization, or have a signed declination on file with Employee Health by Dec. 1 will be referred to Human Resources.
Declination Form For Seasonal Influenza Vaccine
What if I am vaccinated elsewhere?
We ask you submit valid third-party documentation to Employee Health by November 30, 2023. Documentation must include lot number, manufacturer name and date vaccination given. Documentation may be hand delivered or scanned and emailed to the employee health shared email box: employee.health@McLaren.org.
Please submit documentation to Employee Health prior to November 30 to allow for processing. If you receive your flu immunization from a McLaren provider, this information is not automatically supplied to Employee Health, you must still submit it.
What if I have an approved Religious or Medical Exemption on file with McLaren
If an employee previously has been granted a religious or medical flu and/or COVID exemption, that exemption is valid for the duration of employment with McLaren, no further action is necessary. If an exempt employee chooses to be vaccinated with the flu vaccine, they are eligible to receive the vaccine.
When and where will the vaccinations take place?
Employee Health will have flu vaccines available to administer late September. Flu campaign kickoff is October 1, and everyone will need to received vaccination or have signed a declination by November 30. Your subsidiary will provide more detailed information on dates/times/locations of vaccine availability.
Who should I go to if I have questions or need more information on this policy?
Direct any questions to your manager or your local Employee Health Department.