| |
Member
Services
Workplace
Safety
Swine
Flu (H1N1 virus) Information
|
ATTENTION |
|
|
Mandatory Flu Shots Suspended
On
Thursday, October 22, 2009, Governor David Paterson announced that the NYS Department
of Health's requirement that healthcare and other hospital and clinic workers
be vaccinated for seasonal and H1N1 influenza has been suspended.
Intense
pressure from unions and others played a significant role in turning this issue
around. In addition the heads of the Centers for Disease Control and Health and
Human Services have made statements against mandatory influenza vaccination of
healthcare workers.
It is expected that healthcare institutions will continue
to offer both seasonal and H1N1 influenza vaccinations to employees when available,
but on a voluntary basis.
District Council 37 supports influenza vaccination
as part of a comprehensive program to protect workers against infection, but is
strongly opposed to mandating that workers be vaccinated.
For more information
please contact that DC 37 Safety and Health Department at 212-815-1685. | | Swine
Flu (H1N1 virus) information from the DC 37 Safety and Health Department:
Swine Flu (H1N1 virus) is a form of influenza that, until recently,
commonly affected pigs almost exclusively. A small number of humans, most of whom
had direct contact with pigs, became ill every year. An even smaller number died
from the disease.
Recently Swine Flu (H1N1 virus) has started to spread
from person to person. There have been several outbreaks in the U.S. with the
largest cluster in NYC. Although H1N1 is typically a mild flu, people with underlying
health conditions such as asthma, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity and
pregnancy are at greater risk for developing serious complications.
Symptoms
of Swine Flu (H1N1 virus) include fever, cough, sore throat,
body aches, lethargy, headache, chills and tiredness. Diarrhea and vomiting have
also been reported in some cases.
Swine Flu (H1N1 virus) spreads
like other forms of the flu - mainly through coughing and sneezing and from touching
a surface with flu viruses on it and then touching your mouth, nose or eyes.
Symptoms
of Swine Flu (H1N1 virus) usually begin 24-48 hours after exposure. Infected people
may be able to infect others 1 day before symptoms begin and, usually,
up to 7 days after becoming sick.
This year's regular flu shot will not
protect you from Swine Flu (H1N1 virus) strain. In October 2009 a new vaccine
will be available to protect against this strain of flu. In the meantime, if you
develop flu-like symptoms, contact your healthcare provider immediately. The Swine
Flu (H1N1 virus) strain does respond to current antiviral medications, but these
work best if taken within 48 hours of the start of symptoms.
If
you have flu-like symptoms, the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
recommends that you stay home from work for at least 7 days or 1 day after symptoms
end, whichever is longer.
Protect yourself
and others by taking the following steps: - Cover
your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in
the trash after you use it.
- Wash your hands
often with soap and water (for at least 15-20 seconds), especially after your
cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective.
- Avoid
touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
- Clean shared
space such as phone receivers, keyboards, office equipment, etc. as often as possible.
- If
you get sick, stay home from work and limit contact with others to keep from infecting
them.
- If you have severe symptoms such as difficulty
breathing, go to the hospital. For more mild symptoms, contact your healthcare
provider.
- Respiratory protection (at a minimum
an N95 respirator) is recommended for those who come in close contact with persons
infected with, or suspected of being infected with, Swine Flu (H1N1 virus). Employers
must have a written respiratory protection program in place that includes fit
testing, medical clearance and training on proper respirator use.
Most
New York City agencies are required to have an infection control plan in place.
The plan should provide you with guidance and direction on what steps you
should take to protect yourself when dealing with members of the public. You should
request a copy of the infection control plan from your supervisor in order to
know how to protect yourself from a workplace exposure. Contact your union representative
immediately if your supervisor or agency is not responsive to your concerns.
For
more information, contact the District Council 37 Safety and Health Department
at 212-815-1685. Union Survey Report AFSCME
led a timely study with other unions to learn what employers have done to protect
health care workers during a pandemic of influenza such as Swine Flu (H1N1 virus).
Below are links to the study and to an AFSMCE news release summarizing the findings. Additional
Swine Flu (H1N1 Virus) Resources
Below are web links for you
to obtain additional information. District Council 37, AFSCME, is not responsible
for the content of the individual organization web pages found at these links. New
York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health AFL-CIO Swine Flu (H1N1 Virus)
Fact Sheets Occupational
Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) National
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention NYC
Department of Education NYC
Department of Health and Mental Hygiene New
York State Department of Health World
Health Organization 
*Download
Acrobat Reader to view and print PDF files.
| |
HOME
| ABOUT
DC 37 | JOIN
DC 37 | NEWSROOM
| BENEFITS
| CONTRACTS
| POLITICAL
ACTION | MEMBER
SERVICES | CONTACT
US
