On December 6, 2023, the New York State Health Commissioner declared the flu virus widely spread, prompting enhanced flu prevention actions throughout hospitals in Long Island and the Hudson Valley regions. Among these precautionary measures is an intensified campaign to vaccinate all hospital employees. Furthermore, these hospitals are implementing the extensive use of surgical facemasks by employees to create a physical safeguard against flu transmission. This extensive prevention initiative aims to shield patients, visitors, and hospital staff from potential exposure to the influenza virus. This state reaction aligns with the public health legislation enacted in 2014, which stipulates that all unvaccinated healthcare workers in hospitals and residential healthcare facilities are required to wear a mask in patient or resident-heavy areas.
Although the annual flu vaccine is regarded as the most effective way to prevent flu, the additional use of surgical facemasks by hospital employees provides an extra layer of protection for patients, employees and guests. This measure is compulsory as per the New York State public health law, and so, all hospitals in Long Island and the Hudson Valley regions provide both the flu vaccine and surgical facemasks to all employees.
Noteworthy collaborators in this fight against flu are the Suburban Hospital Alliance of New York State, the Nassau-Suffolk Hospital Council (NSHC), and the Northern Metropolitan Hospital Association (NorMet). They actively advocate for the hospitals in their locales, engaging crucial lawmakers and regulatory decision-makers on both state and national stages to drive fair and logical healthcare policies. Together, they serve as the combined voices of not-for-profit and public hospitals in their respective regions, working steadfastly to advance legislative and regulatory priorities that protect local healthcare communities.
Source: https://www.longisland.com/news/12-15-23/long-island-hospitals-intensify-flu-prevention-efforts.html