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<i>The purpose of this communication from Dr. Chandler, Jefferson
Lab's Occupational Medicine director, is to provide updated
information about the lab's seasonal influenza prevention program.</i><br>
<br>
<b>Current Epidemic.</b><br>
This year's epidemic is from a typical seasonal flu strain. It is
not a "novel strain" such as those that have stimulated increased
attention in the past.<br>
<br>
Your best protection is vaccine (available at the Occupational
Medicine department), washing your hands, and using hand sanitizer.
(Sanitizing hand wipes may be picked up from Free Stock for use by
staff and users to disinfect hands and common-use workplace
surfaces, such as phones and keyboards. A new order of liquid hand
sanitizer is being made; the lab community will be notified when the
order arrives.<br>
<br>
This year's epidemic is occurring earlier in the season than is
typical. Most years, cases are more sporadic (as opposed to
epidemic) until February or so. It's impossible to predict the
ultimate intensity and duration this year's epidemic will have. A
mild flu year might kill 20K in the U.S. and a severe epidemic might
cause 70K U.S. deaths. If one extrapolates this year's experience
thus far into the remainder of the flu season, then this could turn
out to be one of the 70K-ish years. However, such extrapolation
isn't valid, and should be left to vaccine manufacturers and
analogous stakeholders.<br>
<br>
<b>Prevention of Disease by Vaccination.</b><br>
* Coverage: There are many strains of flu. Each year the vaccine
is formulated against the strains that are predicted to be most
prevalent in the upcoming year. This is educated guess work. This
year the match is good.<br>
<br>
* Vaccine failure: Even with a correct strain-vaccine match, the
vaccine does not prevent 100 percent of cases (85 percent is a good
effectiveness estimate). If a person receives the vaccine and then
becomes ill from a strain in the vaccine, then the illness is
usually milder than it would have been without vaccination.<br>
<br>
* Availability: There is no vaccine shortage this year. JLab
Occupational Medicine has an adequate supply. We began offering
vaccine in September and have thus far given 247 doses. If you would
like to be vaccinated, please call Occupational Medicine at ext.
7539. Appointments are required, but are often available on short
notice.<br>
<br>
* Timing: After a person receives the flu vaccine, it might take
two or more weeks for full protection to develop. Partial protection
begins to occur sooner. Therefore, within a given flu epidemic,
it's never too late to be vaccinated. If you haven't been vaccinated
yet, and have now reconsidered, please proceed even though the
epidemic is already in full swing.<br>
<br>
* Safety: Seasonal flu vaccine is extremely safe in absolute
terms. Better still, the risk/benefit is highly favorable. The
primary reasons to avoid flu vaccine would be significant egg
allergy and/or a significant adverse response to flu vaccine in the
past.<br>
<br>
<b>Prevention of Contagion via Fomites. </b><br>
Seasonal flu virus lives approximately 8 hours on fomites (inanimate
objects such as desks) and can be transmitted via that route.<br>
<br>
In order to minimize fomite transmission:<br>
* Wash your hands as frequently as you can, using proper
technique. Proper technique involves wetting the hands thoroughly,
then using sufficient soap and friction to create sudsing on all
surfaces for 20-30 seconds, then thorough rinsing of all surfaces.
Such technique is rarely followed.<br>
<br>
For flu prevention, antibacterial soaps offer no advantage over
other soaps. One reason is that flu is caused by a virus, not a
bacteria. (Antiviral soaps are specialty items that have several
downsides.)<br>
<br>
* Use ethanol based hand sanitizers frequently. Properly used,
these kill all bacteria and viruses on contact. Proper use of hand
sanitizers involves use of a quantity sufficient to create a liquid
film on all surfaces, then allowing the film to air dry. Nooks and
crannies under and around nails are easy to miss.<br>
<br>
* Train yourself to avoid touching your face. <br>
<br>
<b>Prevention of Contagion via Droplets.</b><br>
Droplets are generated by coughing and sneezing. The person who is
coughing or sneezing should prevent droplet and fomite transmission
by following "cough and sneeze etiquette": <br>
1. Walk away from others.<br>
2. Turn away from others.<br>
3. Cough or sneeze into something that will capture droplets.
Examples include tissues and one's own clothing, especially at the
elbow, or into the armpit of a jacket.<br>
4. Stay home when you are ill.<br>
<br>
<b>Prevention of Contagion via Aerosols.</b> <br>
While there are arguments about the role of aerosols, the vaccine
works no matter what the mode of transmission is.<br>
<br>
<br>
<i>This message is being sent on behalf of Jefferson Lab management
and the ESH&Q Division.</i><br>
<br>
---<br>
Thank you for your attention to this important health matter.<br>
Best regards,<br>
Deb Magaldi<br>
Jefferson Lab <br>
Public Affairs<br>
ph. 269-5102<br>
<br>
<br>
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