A Rutgers infectious disease expert explains why getting the annual flu shot is important to individual and public health
While social distancing and wearing masks kept the 2021-2022 flu season milder than pre-pandemic levels, experts who expect flu cases to rise this year as COVID-19 restrictions are lifted are urging people to get their flu vaccine to prevent the nations health care system from being overwhelmed by influenza and the pandemic.
David Cennimo, an infectious disease expert atRutgers New Jersey Medical School,discusses what you can do to protect yourself during the upcoming flu season.
What can we learn from last years flu season and what should we expect this year?According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the 20212022 flu season was mild and driven by A(H3N2), a strain that was covered in last years vaccination and is being included in 20222023 vaccines.
The CDCs preliminary figures from last season show 8,000,000 to 13,000,000 flu illnesses, 82,000 to 170,000 flu hospitalizations and 5,000 to 14,000 flu deaths. However, as precautions loosen, we are seeing rates rise. Pediatric deaths, for example, rose from one death in the 20202021 season to 33 this past season. In comparison,199 childrendied from influenza in the 201920 flu season.
When is the optimal time to get a flu shot?The CDC recommends that people age 6 months or older receive a flu vaccination, which is effective for about six months, by late October. The vaccine is effective for about six months so if you get vaccinated too early there is a chance your immunity might wane. Certain children may need a booster shot after the initial vaccination. Check with your doctor.
The nasal mist vaccine is an effective alternative for people between ages 2 to 49 with normal immune systems. It is not for pregnant women, children receiving aspirin or asthmatics under age 4.
Can you get COVID-19 and flu shots at the same time?Yes. The CDC originally recommended a two-week spacing between COVID-19 and other vaccinations, since it was closely monitoring reactions for this new vaccine. Now you can get your COVID-19 shot or booster and flu vaccination at the same time. Studies show having them together does not affect efficacy.
Who is especially vulnerable for contracting the flu?Everyone 6 months of age or older should be vaccinated, but it is especially important for those who are at higher risk for complications and mortality. The CDC estimates that 70 percent to 90 percent of annual flu deaths are in people over 65. Vaccination is important for people with chronic conditions like heart disease and is also critical for caretakers and essential workers who are more likely to transmit the virus if not vaccinated.
Pregnant women should receive the flu shot to prevent severe symptoms and help confer some immunity to their newborns.
Black, Hispanic, American Indian and Alaska Natives also had higher rates of hospitalization and intensive care unit admission for the flu according to the CDC, so flu vaccination is important.
How can one persons flu vaccination possibly save lives?As we have seen withasymptomatic cases of COVID-19, people can unknowingly have the flu and gravely affect vulnerable elderly, children and those who have impaired immune systems, such as cancer patients and people with HIV or pulmonary disease. The more you suppress influenza through vaccination, the less opportunity the virus has to mutate and infect more people. Youll also have lower viral loads and will shed the virus and be infectious for shorter periods of time.
How can a flu shot help me if I do contract the flu?Getting a flu shot reduces your odds of getting sick. If you do, your illness would be less severe. A2018 studyfound that flu vaccination among adults reduced the risk of being admitted to an intensive care unit with flu by 59 percent and a2014 studyshowed that flu vaccination reduced childrens risk of flu-related pediatric intensive care unit admission by 74 percent.
How are the coronavirus and the flu similar and different?Both are spread predominantly through respiratory droplets and contact. There seem to be more asymptomatic cases of coronavirus than influenza, but both are capable of being spread before a person knows they are infected about one to two days before symptoms appear.
Influenza contagiousness is usually over within a week, while coronavirus is around 10 days. Both can cause a spectrum of illness ranging from mild to critical illness and death. Flu symptoms can be confused with COVID-19. If you start feeling ill, it is important to quarantine and test for COVID-19 to rule it out.
Are influenza vaccines safe?Flu vaccines are the most tested and adverse effects are small. Extremely rare side effects like allergic reaction can happen, but the risk is still lower than with many other common medications. Unless someone with an egg allergy has had an allergic reaction to the flu vaccine in the past, they should get the vaccine. If their allergy is serious, they should be monitored while taking the shot. Also, there are two vaccines not made in eggs: rIIV, a recombinant protein, and ccIIV, which is made in cell culture.
Are any of the available flu vaccines recommended over others? Yes, for some people. For the 20222023 flu season, the CDC preferentially recommends three vaccines for people 65 years and older Fluzone High-Dose Quadrivalent vaccine, Flublok Quadrivalent recombinant flu vaccine or Fluad Quadrivalent adjuvanted flu vaccine over standard-dose unadjuvanted flu vaccines.
Can you get the flu from the flu vaccine? Thevaccine takes two weeks to be effective, so people still could contract the flu during this period. The vaccine exposes your body to a weakened form of the virus, which allows you to mount an immune response.Essentially, you are getting a mini flu illness, which is why some people may feel ill after getting the vaccine.
With flu season approaching, plus the possibility of another surge of Covid cases this fall, many Americans are wondering two things: When is the best time to get the flu vaccine if there is one and is it okay to double up and receive both the seasonal flu vaccine and new omicron-specific Covid-19 booster at the same time?
Though the CDC says it's completely fine to get a flu vaccine and Covid-19 shot simultaneously, there hasn't been specific guidance pertaining to the newly formulated booster.
Yet, pharmacies like Walgreens and CVS are offering the vaccines as a packaged deal, and people have already begun getting immunized with both shots at the same time.
But not all public health experts believe this is the best approach, especially given the average flu shot timeline that the U.S. has followed since before the pandemic, says Theodora Hatziioannou, a virologist and associate professor at Rockefeller University.
"For the average person, probably having it a little bit later would be better," Hatziioannou says, "I'm certainly waiting."
The timing of when you get your flu shot should be aligned with the time frame that would allow you to have the best antibody response during the beginning of flu season, Hatziioannou tells CNBC Make It.
It's important to look at data from recent years, prior to the pandemic, in your local area to determine when cases historically start to increase in your community, Hatziioannou says.
The standard rule of thumb is get your vaccination four weeks before the beginning of flu season in order to have the most protection because that's when you'll have the best antibody response, she notes.
"In New York and several other areas with the same geographical latitude, flu season usually starts in December and lasts until March," she says, "So, if you have it [the flu shot] now, at the end of September or [early] October, your peak antibody responses will be in November. It's a little bit too early."
At this time, Hatziioannou recommends getting your flu shot at the end of October or early November to have the highest protection throughout December.
And the protection provided by the vaccine generally wanes over time, so if you get the vaccine too early, you could have less antibodies at the tail end of flu season, she says.
"The one thing I would say is this year I would definitely get both shots because the combination could be quite nasty," Hatziioannou says.
"You don't want to get the flu while Covid's going around, and you don't want to get SARS-CoV-2 while the flu is going around. I can envision that a double whammy would be really terrible."
There aren't any specific reasons why you can't get your omicron booster at the same time as your flu vaccine, says Mark Conroy, emergency medicine physician at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.
"In terms of side effects from the omicron-specific vaccine and the flu shot, there haven't been any studies specifically looking at those two together," Conroy says, "But there have been some studies looking at the prior booster with the flu shot, and there really wasn't a negative effect related to having both shots at the same time."
And if you're worried about not being able to find availability later in the year to get your flu shot, then Conroy encourages you to get a dual-appointment.
"If you don't get them at the same time, what's the biggest risk? And the risk is just forgetting to get the flu shot later," he says, "If you have the chance, obviously get vaccinated over not getting vaccinated."
But, if you can wait for your flu shot, he does recommend doing so until mid- to late-October or the beginning of November as Hatziioannou suggested.
"From the standpoint of the omicron booster, my recommendation is people should just get it as soon as they're able. Covid is around enough and making people sick," he says, "September is a little bit early for the flu shot. I generally recommend getting it a little bit later in the fall."
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For many people, one flu vaccine is as good as another. New this year, however, is guidance for specific types of vaccines for those ages 65 and older.
For people 6 months to 65 years, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said you can use any licensed, age-appropriate influenza vaccine. The options include inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV), recombinant influenza vaccine (RIV), or live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV), with no preference for any flu vaccine over another.
READ MORE: Why some children need 2 flu shots this year
For people 65 and older, however, there are three flu vaccines the CDC is recommending over the standard dose unajuvanated versions. Those vaccines are Fluzone High-DoseQuadrivalent vaccine, Flublok Quadrivalent recombinantflu vaccine and Fluad Quadrivalent adjuvanted flu vaccine. Quadrivalent vaccines contain four different strains of the influenza virus, an effort to better combat the versions expected to circulate this year.
These vaccines are made with an egg-based adjuvant, an ingredient that helps create a stronger immune system. According to the CDC, studies suggest that adjuvanted flu vaccines are potentially more effective for the 65 and older age group. If none of those are available, however, any age-appropriate vaccine is recommended over none at all.
Its recommended everyone 6 months and older in the U.S. with rare exceptions receive a flu vaccine. The best time to get the vaccine is before the end of October as it takes up to two weeks for it to become fully effective.
You can see more on the flu vaccine here.
The arrival of flu season always raises questions. You may be asking yourself: Do I really need a flu shot? When should I get it? Will it make me sick?
Factor in COVID-19 and you may have even more things to consider. Is it safe to get a flu shot and a COVID-19 vaccine or booster at the same time? Influenza cases have been so low during the pandemic, is the flu really worth worrying about on top of everything else?
To help clear up some of the confusion, it can help to hear from a straight-talking doctor. Purvi S. Parikh, MD, a specialist in allergy and immunology at NYU Langone Health in New York City, shares her insights.
Everyday Health: Why get a flu shot?
Purvi Parikh, MD:Its very important to get a flu shot because every year the flu virus causes many deaths, many hospitalizations, and many long term complications especially in those who are elderly or immunocompromised or might have respiratory lung illness.
However, even if youre young and healthy, even if you catch a milder form of the flu, youre at risk of passing it on to one of your loved ones, who may then have a more severe complication.
Children are also at risk, especially because their immune systems are still developing. And we do see pediatric deaths from the flu every year.
EH: Who should get a flu shot and who shouldnt?
PP: Anybody 6 months or older should get a flu shot. Whether or not you have a severe chronic condition that puts you at higher risk for severe complications of the flu, its a good idea to protect yourself as well as protect others. If you catch the flu, youre at risk of passing it on to someone whos much more vulnerable than you.
Those who should not get the flu shot are those who have had a previous allergic reaction to the flu vaccine or may be allergic to one of the components of the flu vaccine. Or if youve had a rare neurological complication of the flu vaccine called Guillain-Barr.
But its always best to discuss with your physician if its a good idea for you to get the flu vaccine or not.
EH:Some people worry that a flu shot will make them sick.
PP: A flu shot cannot make you sick because the flu vaccine contains an inactive version of the flu virus that your immune system can recognize and mount your immediate immune response to, without actually getting infected from the virus.
You might get some expected side effects from the flu vaccine, which we see with other vaccinations, such as feeling run-down. Or you may have a headache for a couple of days or pain at the injection site. However, its much better than getting the actual virus itself.
EH:What is the best month to get a flu shot? And is it ever too early or too late?
PP: Generally the flu season is the worst during fall and winter, so most people will get their flu shots at that time anywhere between September, October, and November. However, its never too early or never too late to protect yourself from the flu. The flu virus is here year-round, so even if you get it a couple of months earlier, or even if you get it into the summer months, its still vital that you protect yourself.
EH:You might still get the flu even if you get a flu shot. So why bother?
PP: The objective of a flu vaccine isnt necessarily to stop you from getting sick at all, but to make sure that if you do get infected with the flu, either you dont get a more severe version of the flu virus or you get a shorter and milder course.
And its to prevent the more severe complications of influenza, such as hospitalizations, death, secondary pneumonias. And again, by everybody getting the flu shot, we can even protect those vulnerable members of our community and those in our family who may be elderly or who may have conditions that put them at higher risk for complications of the flu.
EH:What do people 65 and older need to know about the flu shot?
PP: People 65 and older may not mount as strong of an immune response as those who are younger. Also, their immune responses sometimes wear off a little sooner than those who are younger than 65. For that reason, we do have a high-potency flu vaccine that also is available every year.
And so those individuals should discuss with their physician if the high-potency vaccine is appropriate.
CLEVELAND (WJW) University Hospitals has been selected by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to serve as one of seven locations across the country to study the effectiveness of flu and COVID-19 vaccines.
The CDCs National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Disease has awarded UH $12.5 million in grant funding, with the chance to earn $8 million more over the next five years.
This is the first time that UH is joining, Medical Director of Infection Control Elie Saade said. Were the only hospital in Ohio to do that.We will be able to tell the vaccine effectiveness and how well they work in a real-world setting.
UH will identify laboratory-confirmed cases of acute respiratory illness due to influenza, SARS-CoV-2 (COVID), and other viruses of major public health concern. UH will do this among patients seeking healthcare for acute respiratory illness and related symptomology and will provide accurate estimates of the effectiveness of influenza, COVID-19, and other vaccines against respiratory virus-associated illness in that population.The researchers also will investigate the bodys response to the infection or the vaccine to help understand what can be done to lessen the risk of getting an infection.
Saade said UH was chosen because of its footprint and diverse patient population.
Were also having a strong collaboration with the VA here, who is also partner on this study, and with Case Western Reserve University who is also a partner on this study, Saade said.
Flu season, which has been mild since the start of the pandemic is expected to return to normal levels this year. The xity of Clevelands Director of Public Health Dave Margolius said thats because Australia has already returned to pre-pandemic levels.
So the last couple of years, there hasnt been much flu and we think COVID just out-competed the flu, and thats why, Margolius said. But this year Australia had a what would be like a before-COVID flu season. Thats what were expecting in Cleveland.
Saade and Margolius see this new agreement as a possible boost in reducing vaccine reluctance in Cleveland, where COVID vaccine rates are holding steady at 56%.
My hope is that will be definitely helpful to help get patients trust and peoples trust in the vaccine, Saade said.
UHs agreement with the CDC runs from September 2022 to September 2027.
At Orland Township residents will have the opportunity to receive their seasonal flu-shots on select days in the coming months.
Starting on September 21st, Orland Township residents will have the opportunity to receive their seasonal flu-shots on select Wednesdays at the Township offices, 14807 S. Ravinia Ave., Orland Park, from 3 to 7 p.m. Two weekend clinics are scheduled for those otherwise unable to attend a midweek clinic.
Orland Townships 2022 Flu Shot Clinics are all walk-in (no appointment necessary) and for anyone 3 years of age or older. Pneumonia vaccines (Pneumovax 23 and Prevnar 13) will also be available at the Orland Township Flu Shot Clinics to adults 19 years of ages or older.
It is asked that residents bring an updated immunization record and consult with their physician as to which vaccines they may need.Those receiving a shot are asked to wear a short sleeve shirt.
The Township asks that those planning on attending any of the clinics arrive in good health.
ORLAND TOWNSHIP FLU SHOT CLINICS
14807 S. Ravinia Ave., Orland Park
Wednesdays 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
September 21 & 28
October 12 & 19
November 2 & 9
Orland Township will also be offering off-site flu shots on the following dates:
Sunday, September 25 8 a.m. to Noon
St. Francis of Assisi Church
15050 Wolf Road, Orland Park
Another easily available option for residents is the Drive-Thru Flu Shot Clinic. As one of the Townships more popular offers, this clinic does operate on a first come, first served basis, while supplies last.
Saturday, October 1 9 a.m. to Noon
Orland Township Drive-Thru Flu Shot Clinic
14807 S. Ravinia Ave., Orland Park
The following will be available atallclinics:
Fluarix Quadrivalent*
ONLY at our monthly immunization clinic.
*Fluarix protects against four different flu viruses.
*Fluarix is preservative free.
Flublok Quadrivalent*
*Flublok is 100% egg-free.
*Flublok is highly purified and preservative free.
*Three times more antigens than traditional flu vaccine.
Fluzone High-Dose*
Individuals with Traditional Medicare Part B: Orland Township will bill Medicare for vaccine(s).
Those with a Medicare Advantage Plan or Retiree Plan (depending upon your insurance plan), may be able to submit vaccine receipt for reimbursement.
*Fluzone HD Vaccine is preservative free.
Pneumonia Vaccine(s):NO insurance accepted for Pneumonia vaccinesPneumovax 23: $100Prevnar 13: $195
For more information on Orland Township services, please call at (708) 403-4222, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or visit the website atwww.orlandtownship.org.
Hanania also writes about Middle East issues for the Arab News, and The Arab Daily Newscriticizing government policies in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.
Email Ray Hanania at rghanania@gmail.com.
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Montville Twp. Health Dept. to Sponsor COVID and Flu Vaccine Clinics TAPinto.net
The Covid-19 pandemic showed how vulnerable the elderly are to respiratory diseases.
Like Covid-19, influenza also hits them the hardest, more so if they have pre-existing medical conditions, says Health Deputy Minister I Datuk Dr Noor Azmi Ghazali.
He was speaking at the recent launch of the Preventing the Flu At 65 & Beyond, I Get It Done campaign.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the annual flu shot is one of the best ways to not only protect older adults from severe infection and outcomes caused by influenza viruses, but also contributes towards the healthy ageing journey.
For Kulandasamy Madalamuthu better known as Martin every time he has an upper respiratory tract infection, he only takes the medication his doctor recommends and doesnt consider the possibility that it might be influenza.
The 66-year-old, who recently retired as a supply chain general manager, has heard from many about the side effects of vaccines.
This worries him as he has atherosclerosis, where the blood vessels supplying his heart are blocked, and has undergone angiograms in the past.
I do worry as I have a lot of friends and people talking about the side effects of vaccines, but, at the end of day, I just take advice from my son who is a doctor, and act accordingly, he says.
His son, medical officer Dr K. Kelvin Pillai, believes his parents will be better protected if they are vaccinated as they are both old, and thus, in a high-risk group.
My dad has heart disease, he will definitely benefit more from getting vaccinated as it will protect him.
The side effects are very mild and the benefits of the vaccine outweigh the mild side effects, says the 37-year-old.
In addition to their age, most of those 65 years and older tend to have multiple chronic illnesses, which also increases their vulnerability to infections like the flu, he adds.
In my opinion, those who do not support flu vaccination have very little information on how the vaccine protects and helps.
If we can give more awareness on the benefits of vaccines, Im sure more will support this great effort, he says.
For their health
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme director Judy Chong shares that she already received her flu vaccination in January.While Martin (right) is not too certain about getting a flu vaccine, his son Dr Kelvin firmly believes its necessary for high-risk groups like the elderly. Dr K. KELVIN PILLAI
The 65-year-old believes that the vaccination is important for her health as she has high blood pressure.
I would rather take it than face more complications and higher risk in the future, she says.
Her son, Terence Kuan, 30, says that he wants his parents vaccinated as they are older and have a weaker immune system.
He adds that they also dont really live a healthy lifestyle.
He is not too concerned about side effects as both of his parents have taken the flu vaccine before.
However, the warehouse manager believes that the vaccine might not be needed for those who live a healthy lifestyle and have a strong immune system.
This is a personal preference as every individual has different health needs.
So I believe that everyone should be well-informed about the vaccine and its benefits, which allows them to make the final decision, he says.
For sales assistant Imran Kashim Hanafiah, it took a bit of convincing to get his mother Siti Aminah, 69, to take the flu vaccine.
Fortunately, his mother has always been health-conscious, so she eventually agreed to take her sons advice.
For me, my mothers health comes first no matter what.
As she grows older, it becomes harder for her to fight off diseases.
This gives me more reason to make sure she gets her vaccine, says the 25-year-old.
Despite his irregular working hours, Imran ensures that he makes the time to bring his mother for her annual shots, as well as for any doctors appointments.
Siti Aminah shares her gratitude for her son who always takes care of her, especially after the passing of her husband a few years ago due to a heart attack.
She was not aware of the flu vaccine or how much it can affect a persons health, as not much education and awareness was given during her early years.
Im lucky to have my son to educate me on my health and what I should do to ensure I stay healthy, she says.
Siti, who runs her own food stall near her house, shares that she is afraid of catching any virus as she is always around many people, especially customers who visit her stall daily.
I feel more protected knowing that I have been vaccinated.
However, I still do my part in making sure I take care of my health and hygiene as much as I can, she says.
Not necessary
Although Regina (centre) believes in the importance of vaccination, her parents Roger and Elaine believe that their immune system can fight the flu virus off on its own. REGINA LEE
However, Pricilla Vashte, 29, shares that she and her parents arent vaccinated against influenza as they do not see the need for it.
My mum is pretty healthy; however, my dad is a heart patient.
It definitely worries me a little bit on how his body might react to the vaccine, she says.
However, the web developer adds that she would have no objections if her parents decide to go for the vaccination.
According to her, the topic is not a one size fits all situation, as different people have different opinions on the vaccine.
There is a general mistrust and fear when it comes to vaccines in general.
It may be due to lack of information, awareness or understanding.
People are fearful of what they dont know and dont understand.
Also, over the years, there has been a lot of misinformation, and with the internet, if you dont factcheck your source, you might be reading fake news, she says.
Pricillas mother, Nancy Satya Prema, 64, has not been vaccinated because she is concerned about how the vaccine might affect her future and that of her children.
I dont think the vaccine is important as I believe our bodys natural defence mechanism would be able to help us, says the homemaker.
Mechanical design engineer Regina Lee, 23, shares that her parents similarly refuse to take the vaccine due to fear of the side effects.
They believe that they are too old to take the flu vaccine, and that influenza can be treated like the common cold with the appropriate medicine and rest.
And they too believe that their immune system is able to fight the virus on its own.
I personally think that it is good to be vaccinated because the vaccine helps to boost immunity towards the virus.
I believe that prevention is better than a cure.
However, I do not wish to force my parents to take the vaccine if they refuse to, she says.
Her father, Roger Lee, notes that influenza has been around for a long time.
The 68-year-old insurance manager believes that most of us have had the virus at least once, so we should have some natural immunity towards it.
The thought of a new virus impacting businesses is probably the last thing anyone wants to hear after two years dealing with Covid-19.
But the declaration of a public health emergency in the U.S. means that companies should also increase their awareness and preparations for the monkeypox virus. Companies should now build a plan that details how they will respond to the virus and what tactics they will implement to mitigate its impact. From a strategic or tactical perspective, ignoring the virus is no longer a viable business option.
While CDC data shows that there are more than 23,000 total confirmed monkeypox/orthopoxvirus cases in the United States, at the time of writing, unfortunately there remains real potential for the virus to mutate into a more contagious strain and directly impact businesses, or to enter into child or youth communities where the spread can accelerate.
Following are five aspects of the monkeypox virus that business leaders should be aware of, and how businesses can be better prepared for it.
The CDC explains that the viruss numerous symptoms include swollen lymph nodes, chills and back ache. While some of the symptoms are also very similar to those presented by Covidincluding muscle aches and respiratory issuesthe trademark symptom of monkeypox is a painful, itchy and visible rash which can be very unsightly. The virus is contagious from the time a person becomes symptomatic until their rash heals, all scabs have fallen off, and a fresh layer of skin has grown.
Infected employees will need a long recovery time, away from work, for up to four weeks; many businesses owners and decision makers are not aware of this. This extended period out of the office or away from production lines is what could create the biggest challenge for businesses. A cluster monkeypox outbreak, in which several employees become infected and isolate at home, will only compound matters.
When creating a response plan, anticipating longer employee recovery periods, therefore, becomes paramount. While many businesses may be able to increase the workload of healthy employees to compensate for those out of work, the real challenge comes when specific training or skills are required for certain positions. There may be no one to pass work to in the event of a cluster outbreak. Businesses should build the capability to source and train employees with the required skills to provide their services and solutions without any interruption.
One development after more than two years dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic is higher expectations from employees that their employer will be prepared to keep them safe and keep the business operating through the next major health crisis.
We have all recently experienced what it takes to survive a pandemic, leaving little room for excuses for any business that is not prepared for the next one.
This preparationfulfilling the duty of care businesses have to their workers and contractorscommences with having the processes in place to monitor their horizon for virus and pandemic risks before the business is directly impacted. Preparation also involves having the appropriate processes, plans and tools in place to be able to respond effectively when the next major virus event occurs.
Companies with effective duty of care plans will notice a number of benefits. First, its reassuring to employees when they know that their employer is actively monitoring and managing potential risks and working to keep them safe. Productivity levels can also be maintained during outbreak conditions, since businesses can minimize staff absences due to illness and avoid continuity issues as a result of outbreaks and numerous sidelined workers.
Finally, an effective duty of care program has external benefits for a company. It ensures that a business can keep its commitments to customers and partners, and it directly impacts how parties upstream and downstream view it. They will perceive the company is being more resilient to risk, responsible and a better place to do business with.
One specific point about how to prepare for monkeypox and any future viral threat comes from the lessons of Covid-19. When contact tracing is done correctly, it helps to slow or stop the spread of a virus. Organizations with effective contact tracing systems were able to identify and isolate people that were exposed to a person testing positive for Covid-19.
However, Covid-19 also revealed the slow and ineffective nature of phone-tree contact tracing methods. A variety of factors contributed to this methods disadvantages, including the lag time involved when trying to locate potential contacts, reliance on unverified and untrustworthy data, and invasive phone calls made at inconvenient times to employees.
Phone-tree contact tracing is very difficult to do well at scale. Calling hundreds of employees on an ongoing basis requires a large investment in people and additional infrastructuresomething that many business owners may not want to do.
New best practices, however, have been established by top-performing organizations during the coronavirus pandemic. These companies can now contact trace quicker, more precisely and effectively because they have instant access to employee proximity data. They also minimize the risk of quarantining employees that do not need to be sent home and this also helps to maintain productivity levels
Businesses preparing for the next pandemic must now ditch the redundant phone-tree contact tracing methods.
Following the significant impacts of Covid-19, pandemic risk has reached the board level and is now a high-level consideration in many organizations, particularly when it comes to making decisions about the companys biggest asset: its employees. Workers, partners and customers expect company decision-makers to have mitigation protocols in place to effectively manage pandemic risk.
Corporate boards typically make informed and proactive decisions based on their access to accurate and insightful data. Decision-making about employees without trustworthy data is tantamount to guess work, which can put a company at risk.
The type of workforce data required by a board for decision-making in relation to pandemics typically concerns employee well-being and access control, virus testing, and the identification of cases and high-risk virus close contacts, so an organization can slow or stop the spread of a virus through its teams. Access to this level of data in relation to monkeypox or any virus will help them manage their risks better, protect employees and supply chains, and ensure continuity of business.
Boards who ignore planning for monkeypox may not be able to meet corporate compliancy requirements. It is important that the company has the necessary protocols in place, approved by the board, to manage employee risks, deliver uninterrupted value to shareholders and partners, and meet customer service-level agreements.
Finally, when companies plan their response to manage the monkeypox virus, one of the most important best practices established by top-performing businesses in the Covid-19 pandemic has been the use of an integrated, multidisciplinary task force to tackle the challenge.
Due to the need for a timely response, the execution of a virus response plan cannot be a siloed activity. A multidisciplinary team, backed by the company board, must be tasked to work together to formulate an integrated plan with key roles, responsibilities, strategies and tactics that will guide the business in its response to, and management of, an outbreak.
Ideally, this team should consist of senior executives from HR, business continuity, IT, health and safety, communications, and finance. All of those business leaders must be involved because their domains will be impacted by an outbreak of the virus at work.
Businesses with an integrated plan in place will also be able to respond faster. This speed of response is the key in more effectively mitigating a virus that can wipe staff out for extended periods.
There is no place for complacency for companies in dealing with the threat of monkeypox and reusing a Covid-19 plan to manage a monkeypox outbreak could put a company at risk.
Allowance for a longer recover period of up to four weeks must be made. Companies now have a higher expected duty of care to everyone up and down their supply chain, and to all internal stakeholders. Employees, partners, clients and suppliers will now expect them to have a pandemic management plan in place.
The management of pandemic risk is now receiving a higher priority from company directors and the C-suite. Best practice is to ensure an integrated and multidisciplinary team is charged with not only getting a company pandemic-ready but monitoring the horizon for risks and taking the necessary mitigating steps to protect the business. Monkeypox is the first new virus where new pandemic-ready standards will be applied, but it wont be the last.
Clint Van Marrewijk is the CEO and co-founder of SaferMe, a provider of contact tracing technologies.
Repair your screen windows and empty your birdbath frequently the number of cases of the West Nile Virus in North Carolina is double the usual number.
Thats the message that state health officials put out on Monday, Sept.19.
If protecting yourself and your family against COVID-19 and Monkeypox wasnt enough to keep you worried, now the NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) is warning you to take precautions against yet another disease.
While it sounds a little scary to say that the number of cases of West Nile Virus has doubled in the state, its a little less frightening than you understand that there have been four cases so far this year in the entire state of over 10 million people.
The four reported cases of West Nile Virus is double the average number of cases at this point in the year, the press release states. The average number of cases by the end of August each year is two.
Also making it less scary: the vast majority of people who get the disease experience no symptoms at all.
Only about 20 percent of infected people will develop a fever with other symptoms such as headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea or rash.
In roughly 1 percent of infections, the West Nile Virus results in serious medical issues such as encephalitis or meningitis. In very rare cases, it can lead to death.
State Public Health Entomologist Michael Doyle stated in the Sept. 19 press release that people should be on guard.
Detecting a number of West Nile virus infections is a reminder to take precautions, especially because there are two months of active transmission season ahead of us, he stated.
Fall is the time each year when most cases of mosquito-borne illnesses are reported, so NCDHHS recommends the following:
The West Nile Virus is one of several mosquito-borne viruses which may infect people in North Carolina. Others include eastern equine encephalitis virus and La Crosse virus.
