With concerns over H1N1 influenza playing out nationwide, a record number of Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center employees have taken a concrete step to protect themselves from the seasonal flu.
Since mid-September, when the Medical Center began its seasonal flu vaccination sessions for employees, nearly 5,500 physicians and staff have voluntarily chosen to get their seasonal flu shot. That’s almost 74 percent of employees.
The vaccination is being provided free to employees. With four more employee vaccination dates scheduled for Oct. 19, 20, 21 and 23, the Medical Center has ordered additional vaccine to meet staff demand.
Medical Center CEO Dr. Harold L. Paz, praised employees for taking action to protect themselves and their patients from the flu.
“A flu shot is a simple and effective way to help prevent the spread of illness,” said Paz, who also serves as Penn State’s senior vice president for health affairs and dean of Penn State College of Medicine. “With so many employees choosing to get vaccinated we have taken an important step toward keeping our workforce healthy and prepared to meet the needs of our community during the cold and flu season.”
Paz, who sees patients in the Medical Center’s pulmonary medicine clinic, was among the Medical Center personnel who received a flu shot at the start of the employee vaccination campaign.