TO: DUHS Physicians, Staff and Volunteers
FROM: William J. Fulkerson Jr., M.D.; Executive Vice President, DUHS
SUBJECT: Flu Vaccination Requirements DATE: Aug. 6, 2015 __________________________________________________________
As you know, Duke University Health System (DUHS) requires all healthcare workers who perform their duties in a DUHS facility or a community home-based setting to be vaccinated annually against the flu. This is in alignment with our core value of “caring for our patients, their loved ones and each other.” Annual vaccination against influenza, or policy compliance through a granted medical or religious exemption, is a condition of employment for all DUHS employees. Annual vaccination or policy compliance is also a condition of access to Duke Medicine facilities including information systems for those holding clinical privileges in a Duke Medicine facility and learners who wish to train in our facilities.
With this in mind, please note these key dates for this flu vaccination season:
- Start of Flu Vaccination Season: Thursday, September 17, 2015
- Applications for Medical or Religious Exemption should be submitted before Monday, October 12, 2015. This will allow sufficient time for review and for communication of the review decision. Please note: Due to the availability of an egg-free formulation of the flu vaccine, egg allergy is no longer a valid reason for a medical exemption.
- Policy compliance through vaccination or granted medical or religious exemption by Tuesday, November 3, 2015
We will kick off our annual flu vaccination campaign with a 24-hour Duke Medicine Mass Flu Vaccination drill on Thursday, September 17, 2015. Mass vaccination clinics will be available at each of the hospitals with peer vaccination available throughout DUHS. Following the drill, we will continue our annual flu vaccination program, during which time we will provide many additional opportunities for you to get vaccinated. A schedule of vaccination clinics will be posted on the employee intranet in early September. This list will be updated throughout the vaccination season. Vaccination is also available at Employee Occupational Health and Wellness (EOHW) during business hours.
If you have questions about the flu vaccine or its availability, please visit the DUHS Influenza Resource Guide or duke.edu/flu, ask your manager or contact EOHW.
Together, we can stop the flu. Thank you for your commitment to keeping our patients, and our community, safe and healthy.
