By Jamie Shuster

With the start of the new flu season, DHEC is taking proactive measures to prevent the spread of flu in our workplace. Starting October 8, we’ll be offering all DHEC employees a free flu vaccination to help our staff stay healthy this flu season.

New this year, we will be taking the flu vaccine door-to-door, offering employees a quick and convenient way to get their flu vaccine without having to make an appointment or wait in line. A Public Health nurse will come by your office and offer you a flu vaccine in the comfort of your own workspace. If you’re not in when the nurse stops by, you will receive a card with information on when the nurse will return to offer you a vaccine.

In addition to traditional flu shots, we will also be offering the nasal spray vaccine to employees who are eligible. The nasal spray is approved for use in healthy adults under the age of 50. We will also have a few egg-free vaccines set aside for people with a documented egg allergy.

Below is a list of the dates Public Health nursing staff will be coming to our central office locations to offer free flu vaccinations to our employees. Nurses will be making office rounds between 9:30 AM and noon:

• Columbia Mills – October 16 and 23
• Hayne Building/State Park – October 15 and 28
• Mills Jarrett – October 8 and 21
• Sims Aycock – October 9 and 22

The CDC and DHEC recommend that everyone 6 months of age and older get a flu shot every year – it is the single best way to protect you and your family from the flu.  I encourage everyone to take advantage of this free and convenient opportunity to do your part to keep our workplace flu-free this year.

Thank you to our Nursing Team, especially Angie Olawsky and Jessica Bryan, for coordinating this door-to-door vaccination effort, as well as our regional employee health nurses Cindy Robertson, Karen Warren, Susan Watts, and Jane Yates. If you have any questions or have already received a flu vaccination, please contact your employee health nurse for assistance.