Dear team member:
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. 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 is obtained.
The deadline to submit an exemption request was Tuesday, Sept. 26.
Team members seeking an exemption must complete the appropriate online request form and provide the required documents, if applicable, prior to the deadline. After review, team members will be notified of the outcome via email before Oct. 5.
- Click here to access the Influenza Vaccination Exemption Statement form on the Ballad Health intranet.
- Click here to access the Religious Accommodation Request for Flu Vaccination on the Ballad Health intranet.
Important info about exemptions
- Medical exemption approvals from prior years are not carried forward and must be requested. Anyone seeking an exemption must complete the online exemption request form and attaching a medical note signed by a licensed medical provider dated within the last six months. For medical exemption requests to be reviewed, both the online exemption request form and current medical documentation must be submitted and received. The link to the Influenza Vaccination Exemption Statement is below and allows for documentation to be attached.
- If a religious exemption was approved in 2022, you do not need to request again. Anyone seeking a new religious accommodation must complete both the online request form (Influenza Vaccination Exemption Statement) and the Religious Accommodation Request form by Sept. 26. Links to both forms are below.
Flu shot season
As we approach the flu season, it is critically important we maintain our staffing as much as possible so 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.
Flu shots will be offered at Team Member Health offices from Oct. 2-27.
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.)
Key information
Team members can also get their flu vaccinations 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.
- However, only Ballad Health team members, including our employed providers, will use the electronic exemption request form process.
- Students seeking an exemption must follow the process in place at their school to request an exemption directly with the school.
- Volunteers seeking exemptions will be provided a paper exemption request form to complete, so please check with your volunteer leader.
- Independent, credentialed providers wishing to file for an exemption should contact Medical Staff Services to obtain and submit an exemption form request.
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.
A required flu education handout will be given to each team member by Team Member Health at the time the vaccine is administered.
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.
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
