BWHC President Betsy Nabel receives flu vaccine at last year’s OHS Employee Flu Clinic.

This flu season, BWHC is making a change that will enable us to better protect patients, families, staff and visitors from the spread of flu.

Beginning Dec. 1 and continuing through the end of flu season, BWH and BWFH personnel who are not vaccinated for influenza for any reason, including a medical reason, will be required to wear a surgical or procedural mask while they are in patients’ rooms or patient care areas, and whenever there is a reasonable expectation of being within six feet of a patient in a patient care area (such as in a waiting room, patient care unit, family room or clinical research space). Those who fail to comply with this policy will be subject to disciplinary action.

“BWH is committed to providing a safe environment for our patients, families, staff and visitors,” said BWHC President Betsy Nabel, MD. “One of the simplest and most effective ways that we can protect our community from influenza is by receiving an annual flu vaccination.”

This requirement is in addition to the Massachusetts state requirement that all employees must attest in PeopleSoft to either receiving influenza vaccine or declining to be vaccinated.

Attestation is done automatically for employees who receive vaccine through Occupational Health Services (OHS) at Employees Flu Clinics, at the OHS Neville House and through the Peer-to-Peer program. Personnel who decline flu vaccine or who receive vaccination at a primary care practice or other non-OHS location must manually attest in PeopleSoft by Dec. 1, 2015.

Employees can attest by visiting peoplesofthr.partners.org/public/ from a work or home computer or mobile phone.

OHS offers seasonal flu vaccinations at no cost to all personnel. Vaccination will be available at BWH:

  • Beginning Sept. 21 through the Peer-to-Peer program, available on most nursing units in the Tower, Shapiro and CWN buildings.
  • Sept. 26–Oct. 3, 6:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., at OHS Employees Flu Clinics in the Miller Atrium (second floor lobby of the Shapiro Center). Please note this year’s new location.
  • Oct. 5–Oct. 9 in the Neville House Lobby, 7:30 a.m.–4 p.m.
  • After Oct. 9 in the Neville House Clinic by appointment or during walk-in hours (Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays: 7–9 a.m.; Wednesdays: 2–3 p.m.). Call OHS at 617-732-6034.
  • Offsite locations, dates and times are available at BWHPikeNotes.org.

At BWFH, vaccination will be available beginning Sept. 21, Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m., at OHS on the 7th floor. Walk-ins are welcome, or call 617-983-4628 to make an appointment.

All personnel will receive a sticker from OHS Employee Flu Clinics, the Neville House Lobby program and the Peer-to-Peer program that must be worn on their ID badge as verification that they were vaccinated. Those who receive their vaccination elsewhere should obtain their sticker from OHS after attesting in PeopleSoft.

Employees can contact their Human Resources business partner or manager with any questions or concerns. The updated policy and additional resources, such as employee FAQs, are available here.