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Flu vaccine will target both
Sherrie Dornberger, RNC,
CDONA, FACDONA
President, NADONA seasonal and H1N1 strains
By James M. Berklan advised to receive flu shots as
In order to observe a homelike envi- Providers may cut by half the soon as they are available.
ronment and resident dignity, we injections they administer to Each year, influenza infec-
are not supposed to assist wearing protect residents against the tion leads to 200,000 hospi-
flu this fall and winter. The talizations and 36,000 deaths,
Photo: iStockphoto
gloves. But if we are one-on-one with
a resident and bread needs to be U.S. Food and Drug Admin- most of them affecting seniors
buttered, should we wear gloves? istration has approved a new and those with chronic health
influenza vaccine that protects conditions.
This question is one that everyone against the H1N1 2009 pan- Caregivers could be vaccinating The upcoming season’s
seems to be struggling with. You need demic virus, as well as two more individuals yet administer- influenza vaccines will include
ing fewer needlesticks this flu
to put on deli gloves, use food handling seasonal strains of the flu. season.
the following: Afluria (CSL
paper—like those used in bakeries to Last flu season, separate Limited), Agriflu (Novartis
pick up individual donuts or cookies— shots had to be administered New flu guidelines take Vaccines and Diagnostics),
or use the “knife/fork it” method, to cover both seasonal and effect this season, which Fluarix (GlaxoSmithKline
where you use a knife and fork to pick H1N1 flu. should increase the number Biologicals), FluLaval (Glaxo-
up food items to hand it to the resident Roughly 155 million flu of Americans who will receive SmithKline Biologicals), Flu-
if they can’t pick items up alone. shots and sprays will be dis- a flu shot. The CDC now rec- Mist (MedImmune Vaccines
This method is the personal favorite tributed in the U.S. during the ommends that everyone over Inc.), Fluvirin (Novartis Vac-
of some infection control nurses when coming flu season, according the age of six months receive cines and Diagnostics Ltd.)
it comes to feeding residents. It is to the Centers for Disease Con- the vaccine. and Fluzone/Fluzone High-
tricky to get used to but works well and trol and Prevention. Healthcare workers are Dose (Sanofi Pasteur Inc.). ■
cuts down on the number of gloves
Post-stroke falls are hard to avoid: study
needed while assisting in the dining
rooms. After all, we don’t wear gloves in
our own homes.
Food code regulations require that By James M. Berklan D supplementation was a con- been determined,” Batchelor
gloves be worn when preparing and Strategies t