August is National Immunization Awareness Month

The need for immunization awareness is especially high in the fall. Children’s vaccinations must be up to date for admittance to school.

As kids get ready to return to school we are also getting ready for the upcoming flu season. School supplies include boxes of tissues and bottles of germicidal hand gel.

This year’s awareness is especially high with the H1N1 (Swine Flu) pandemic.

Vaccinations have eradicated dreaded diseases such as smallpox and reduced the number of cases of measles, rubella, pertussis, diphtheria and other diseases.

We can continue to promote wellness by reminding patients (and ourselves) to follow influenza vaccination recommendations this fall.

Check out Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the latest recommendations and vaccine information.

Don’t Forget Your Flu Shot

Health care workers are frequently exposed to the flu by patients and other workers who feel they must drag themselves in, “no matter what.”

The H1N1 influenza has proved to be difficult to control. There is no immunity to this new outbreak…making it especially debilitating and sometimes deadly.

Read this article from American Journal of Nursing. Health and Safety: Requiring Influenza Vaccinations for Health Care Providers.

Nurses are on the forefront of prevention. Make it a point this year to:

• Get your flu shot
• Don’t come to work with flu symptoms, exposing patients and coworkers
• Encourage others to do the same

Get involved in an Immunization Clinic

Clinics are gearing up for the flu season. Nurses are needed to run mobile clinics throughout the nation. They will be in shopping centers, drug stores, community centers, work places and many other locations.

These are often turn-key clinics…run by national companies who hire nurses to set-up, operate, manage and clean-up.

One such clinic that I have heard good things about is Mollen Clinic

You can do an online application. They will call you for a phone interview and your availability. If you qualify, you can choose when, where and the hours you are available. It’s seasonal but there is potential for full time if you are interested.

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