Pandemic Flu Antiviral Program:
Pandemic influenza refers to a worldwide outbreak of influenza among people when a new strain of the virus emerges that has the ability to infect humans and to spread from person to person. During the early phases of an influenza pandemic, people might not have any natural immunity to the new strain; so the disease would spread rapidly among the population.
View an IMCC Webinar on Preparing Your Company for a Pandemic.
How a Severe Pandemic Influenza Could Affect Workplaces
Unlike natural disasters or terrorist events, an influenza pandemic will be widespread, affecting multiple areas of the United States and other countries at the same time. A pandemic will also be an extended event, with multiple waves of outbreaks in the same geographic area; each outbreak could last from 6 to 8 weeks. Waves of outbreaks may occur over a year or more. Your workplace will likely experience:
- Absenteeism - A pandemic could affect as many as 40 percent of the workforce during periods of peak influenza illness. Employees could be absent because they are sick, must care for sick family members or for children if schools or day care centers are closed, are afraid to come to work, or the employer might not be notified that the employee has died.
- Change in patterns of commerce - During a pandemic, consumer demand for items related to infection control is likely to increase dramatically, while consumer interest in other goods may decline. Consumers may also change the ways in which they shop as a result of the pandemic. Consumers may try to shop at off-peak hours to reduce contact with other people, show increased interest in home delivery services, or prefer other options, such as drive-through service, to reduce person-to-person contact.
- Interrupted supply/delivery - Shipments of items from those geographic areas severely affected by the pandemic may be delayed or cancelled.
How to Maintain Operations During a Pandemic
As an employer, you have an important role in protecting employee health and safety, and limiting the impact of an influenza pandemic.
- Develop a Disaster Plan
Develop a disaster plan that includes pandemic preparedness (See the Business Pandemic Influenza Planning Checklist) and review it and conduct drills regularly.
- Protect Employees and Customers
Educate and train employees in proper hand hygiene, cough etiquette and social distancing techniques. Understand and develop work practice and engineering controls that could provide additional protection to your employees and customers, such as: drive-through service windows, clear plastic sneeze barriers, ventilation, and the proper selection, use and disposal of personal protective equipment.
- H1N1 Vaccine Now Available
Flu mist vaccine available for healthy individuals up to age 49, injectable form expected later this fall. Contact us now to schedule your H1N1 vaccine clinic.
- Antiviral Distribution Program:
In the event that a pandemic results in limited accessibility to medical care and/or antiviral medication (Tamiflu, Relenza), consider IMCC's Antiviral Distribution Program, providing a stockpile of antiviral medication to be dispensed to your employees now. If they are diagnosed with flu and prescribed the antiviral, they are assured of having the supply available.
The Elements of the program include:
1. Development of a Pandemic Preparedness Policy
2. Order Antiviral Medication stockpile or use prescription drug benefit
3. Communication of program to employees
4. Registration of interested participants
5. Education on H1N1 and Acceptable use of Antiviral Medication
6. Administration of AntiViral questionnaire
7. Physician review/consultation process
8. Prescription and distribution of antiviral medication
9. Annual renewal program
Contact Dr. Earl directly to institute your Antiviral Distribution Program today at 908-879-7730.