Flu Vaccination Registration Begins

“Your Wellness Matters”, the County’s employee wellness program, will offer free flu vaccination clinics and hand sanitizer as part of its annual flu prevention program. Both programs are available to all County employees. In addition, flu shots are being offered to eligible dependents (spouse and children under age 25 for whom you are the primary provider of support and maintenance).

Influenza (flu) is a contagious disease. It is caused by the influenza virus, which spreads from infected persons to the nose and throat of others. On average, 226,000 people are hospitalized every year because of influenza and 36,000 die. Left untreated, flu can lead to pneumonia and can be dangerous for people with heart or breathing conditions.

Despite all the news about H1N1, it is important for people to receive the seasonal flu vaccine.

This seasonal flu vaccination does not prevent you from the H1N1 Influenza A Pandemic strain of flu. Therefore, individuals will need to obtain separate vaccinations for H1N1 in order to be fully protected this flu season. The county is not providing H1N1 vaccinations for employees.

Registration for the clinics is on a first-come-first-serve basis so don’t delay, register today! Appointments are recommended but walk-ins are allowed; but you will be vaccinated after all scheduled appointments and there could be a possible delay or wait time.

There are 12 appointments per 15-minute time slot. To make an appointment, you have two options:

1. Click on this link: http://pbhfluvacreg.ad.jocoks.com/

2. Access the link through Wellness U by clicking on the button titled “Flu Shot Registration” at the left-hand side or under “Latest News”.

You need to complete, sign and bring the Public Health Consent Form with you when you receive your flu shot. The Form can be printed off from your appointment confirmation e-mail or the web-link when you make the appointment (at the left side of the webpage). There is also an informational article that provides details regarding the flu vaccine.

The current flu vaccination clinics schedule is as follows (all from 12:00 - 4:00 p.m. unless noted otherwise) and a detailed listing is available under Wellness U:

Friday, September 18 - Central Resource Library (Carmack Room) 

Tuesday, September 22 - Sunset Building (Room 1055)

Thursday, September 24 - Public Works (Breakroom – Door 6) 

Tuesday, September 29 - Sheriff's Operations Ctr., New Century (Training Rm A) 12–5 p.m.

Thursday, October 1 - Administration Building (Room 0200); 12:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Although the flu clinics are being scheduled earlier in the flu season than past years, you will have protection from seasonal flu throughout the duration of the flu season.

Public Health staff, which the Wellness Committee uses to administer its employee flu vaccination clinics, is being tasked by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment to provide H1N1 vaccinations. These vaccines will be provided initially to the target groups identified by CDC and ACIP. As supply increases, the vaccine will be offered to all Johnson County residents.  As a result, the County has had to significantly reduce the number of locations where the flu vaccination clinics were offered from 13 to 5.  We have tried to schedule the clinics throughout the County to accommodate employees as much as possible.

In addition to the free clinics, there are at least two other methods to receive a flu shot. The following two programs are available for employees enrolled under the County’s medical plans:

· BCBSKC offers a discounted coupon program for "high-risk" members.  "High-risk" are defined as members over age 50 years (turns 50 during 2007) and anyone over nine years old with a chronic medical problem such as diabetes, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or congestive heart failure.

· Finally, the County's medical plans cover flu shots as an eligible expense.  If you or your dependents are covered under one of the County’s two medical programs through BCBSKC and if you go to a participating provider, you will pay an office copayment of $15.  However, if you advise the provider's office that you only want a flu shot and someone other than the doctor, such as a nurse or physician’s assistant, can administer it - eliminating an office copayment - you may not be charged anything. Combine an annual physical examination with your annual flu shot to receive to doctor-recommended activities into one copayment!

The hand sanitizer will be distributed through your departmental Wellness Coordinator(s) when received and quantities finalized.

If you have any questions regarding the flu vaccination clinics, you can call your Wellness Coordinator or Cameron Ahrens at 715-0704 (or e-mail him at cameron.ahrens@jocogov.org).