New policy addresses flu mitigation. All non-vaccinated employees must wear a mask.

Penn State Health Employee Health has created a new policy to help prevent the spread of seasonal influenza and other viral respiratory illnesses. The policy, which applies to all Penn State Health employees, students, temporary health care professionals, vendors, contractors, temporary staff and volunteers regardless of whether they are in patient-facing environments, requires them to wear surgical masks when within six feet of another individual if they are not vaccinated against influenza.

Masking is required in all patient-access areas regardless of flu vaccine status.

Vaccination is one of the key measures of defense against the spread of influenza. To protect patients and staff members from influenza, Penn State Health strongly advises health care providers not to decline the influenza vaccination for any reason other than a medical contraindication. Any employee declining the flu vaccine must sign a declination form, available in ReadySet. 

• Click here to view walk-in opportunities for the flu vaccine at 175 Crystal A Drive.
• Click here to sign up for an appointment at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.

All Penn State Health employees must complete the flu survey in their Employee Health ReadySet account before receiving the vaccine. See instructions here. Employees who receive a flu vaccine at a site other than Employee Health must upload proof of the vaccination to ReadySet or Employee Health will assume they are not vaccinated.

The Seasonal (Influenza) and Other Viral Respiratory Illness Policy also addresses other flu mitigation efforts, including:

• Employees with a fever and respiratory symptoms such as cough, runny nose, sneezing or sore throat should not report to work. If already at work and applicable, they should stop any patient care activities, don a surgical mask and notify their supervisor of their symptoms.
• Upon returning to work, all staff — regardless of whether they are in patient-facing environments — should wear a surgical mask until sneezing, runny nose and/or sore throat have resolved and cough has subsided.

Read the full policy here.

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