Each year, for the ongoing health and safety of our patients, their families and our team members, all Ballad Health team members are required to receive their annual flu vaccine. Flu shots will be offered at Team Member Health offices from Oct. 2-27.
The deadline for team members to get their flu vaccination is Friday, Oct. 27, at 4 p.m., unless an approved medical or religious exemption has been obtained.
- Click here to see a list of Team Member Health offices and hours, as posted to the Ballad Health intranet. (NOTE: You must be on a Ballad Health network device to access the intranet.)
Important info about exemptions
The deadline for submitting medical or religious exemption requests has passed. The final day to make an exemption request was Tuesday, Sept. 26.
Flu season and staffing
As we approach the flu season, it is critically important we maintain our staffing as much as possible so that we can care for the communities who count on us. While we can never be certain how severe the flu season will be, the combination of flu with the anticipated increase in COVID will present challenges that could lead to longer wait times for patients and put strain on our staffing resources.
It is important we each do our best to protect ourselves from being infected with the flu, and to avoid spreading it to our fellow team members and patients. There is no doubt, if you are in patient care, you will be exposed to patients who have the flu.
Key information
Team members can get their flu vaccinations through Team Member Health, but they can also choose to get a flu shot from their primary care provider or at other places where it is offered – but would need to provide documentation to Team Member Health by Oct. 27 at 4 p.m.
- There is no cost for team members to get the vaccine.
- The flu vaccination is mandatory for all team members, employed physicians, students and volunteers, unless they have an approved exemption.
- The vaccine is safe and has long been proven to reduce both the incidence and severity of the flu. The vaccine is also safe for team members to receive at the same time they get a voluntary COVID-19 vaccination or booster.
- Because our goal is to protect each team member, and our patients, if a team member obtains an approved exemption, the team member will be required to wear a mask in the facility throughout the flu season.
A required flu education handout will be given to each team member by Team Member Health at the time the vaccine is administered.
Dependents on our health plan can go to any Optum RX network pharmacy providing influenza vaccines, show their pharmacy insurance card and receive the free (to them) flu vaccine. Ballad Health pays for this important health benefit on behalf of our covered dependents on the health plan.
Thank you in advance to all team members! Getting the flu vaccine helps promote the safety of our patients, their families and our team members.
Thank you,
Ballad Health Human Resources
