Get your flu shot Oct. 4-31: Three easy options for providers

Author: Steven Freer, M.D., chief medical officer, Providence Oregon; and Isidor Brill Chair of Medicine, Providence St. Vincent Medical Center
 

Providence Oregon is working to ensure that our employed providers, affiliated providers and caregivers are vaccinated against the flu to protect ourselves, our patients and our community. Not only does the vaccine reduce your risk of getting the flu, it reduces the severity of illness if you happen to get the flu despite the vaccine, and it lowers the risk of transmitting flu to others. It also reduces the overall impact of respiratory illnesses and thus lessens the burden on hospital capacity, respirators and ventilators – all of which already are stressed due to COVID-19 and the Delta variant.

Providence’s influenza policy requires all caregivers, providers, volunteers and others who work in patient care areas in a facility, clinic or ambulatory setting – as well as those who have reason to enter a patient care setting – either to accept the influenza vaccination, or decline. Those who decline the flu vaccine must fill out and submit a declination form, and also wear a surgical mask when entering patient care areas during flu season.

There are three easy options for providers to receive their flu vaccination: (1) participate in mass vaccination events held at all eight Providence Oregon hospitals, (2) go to Caregiver Health Services, or (3) get your vaccine elsewhere and report it to Caregiver Health Services.
 

Option 1: Mass vaccination event
Mass vaccination events are open to all Providence-employed and non-employed providers. If you choose this option, all you have to do is show up, complete the consent information on an iPad and get your vaccination.
 

When and where to participate
The flu events will be held Oct. 4-31 at all eight of Providence’s acute care hospitals in Oregon. Dates and locations are below:

Included in the mass vaccination efforts are roving flu carts that began moving through the hospitals starting Sept. 13. They will continue through late October.
 

PORTLAND METRO:

• Providence St. Vincent, Oct. 4-8 (7 a.m. to 9 p.m.), Souther Classrooms
• Providence Portland Medical Center, Oct. 4-8 (7 a.m. to 9 p.m.), Cancer Center CR A/B
• Providence Milwaukie Hospital, Oct. 12 (7 a.m. to 9 p.m.), Mother Joseph Room
• Providence Willamette Falls Medical Center, Oct. 6 (7 a.m. to 9 p.m.)
   

YAMHILL:

• Providence Newberg Medical Center, Oct. 7 (7 a.m. to 7 p.m.), Dundee Room
   

NORTH COAST:

• Providence Seaside Hospital, Oct. 8 (7 a.m. to 7 p.m.), Education Room A
   

SOUTHERN OREGON:

• Providence Medford Medical Center, Oct. 6 and Oct. 13 (7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.), Caregiver Health Services
   

COLUMBIA GORGE:

Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital, Sept. 7-Oct. 29*. Caregiver Health will be open for walk-in flu vaccinations during the times below. No appointment is needed. If a provider or caregiver is unable to make any of those times, they can schedule an individual appointment. 

• Tuesday 7:30-9:30 a.m.
• Thursday 1-3:30 p.m.
• Friday 8 a.m. to noon
   

*Note: There will be NO flu vaccination opportunities on:

• Sept. 14 
• Sept. 23
• Sept. 30
• Oct. 22 
   

Option 2:  Go to Caregiver Health Services
Caregiver Health Services is happy to vaccinate our employed and non-employed providers.  When you receive your flu vaccine, the Caregiver Health nurse can print a copy of your form. We recommend that you take a photo of your record as a backup. Caregiver Health Services collaborates with the regional medical staff office so your vaccine can be counted for national reporting requirements.

Business hours and locations for Caregiver Health Services are:

Option 3: Report your vaccination received elsewhere 
If you receive the flu vaccine outside of Providence, please complete an “influenza vaccination elsewhere” form for Providence caregivers, or take a photo and send it to Caregiver Health Services at oregon.regioncaregiverhealthservices@providence.org.
 

Religious or medical exceptions
As a provider, if you’re unable to receive the vaccination for religious reasons or medical contraindication, you must complete an influenza declination form and send to Caregiver Health Services at oregon.regioncaregiverhealthservices@providence.org. You also must comply with masking requirements when flu season is declared.
 

Why should you get a flu vaccine?
We strongly encourage all caregivers and medical staff, even those who do not provide direct patient care, to be vaccinated against influenza. It’s the most effective step to help prevent contracting and spreading the flu.

In addition to the flu vaccine, please use good hand hygiene, wear your face mask and stay home if you’re sick.   

As flu season intensifies, we sometimes ask families to limit their access when visiting our most vulnerable patients. You will be notified when influenza visitation policies go into effect. 
 

Documenting and reporting flu vaccines
Providence is required to report annually to the Oregon Health Authority and the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) the influenza vaccination rates of all our caregivers, licensed independent practitioners, contractors, adult volunteers and adult students. Providence expects 100% participation among practitioners; in addition, the NHSN data is publicly reported.
 

For more information
Visit the Flu Immunization Campaign site. This is an internal site accessible only to Providence employees.

As always, we appreciate your partnership in working together to reduce the impact of influenza season. This year, more than ever before, it’s important for providers and caregivers to work together to protect our communities.