In the second year of our mandatory flu vaccination policy, workers at UF Health are continuing to get vaccinated in record numbers. Last year, 95 percent of UF Health Shands staff received their flu vaccinations and we saw a significant reduction in flu-related hospitalizations.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the flu vaccine can reduce a person’s chance of getting sick from the flu by 60 percent. So even though most of us are vaccinated — and those who aren’t are wearing masks in patient care areas — there is no guarantee we won’t get the flu.

For this reason, if you have any flu symptoms, please stay home — and remain home until symptoms have resolved for at least 24 hours.

“The primary reason we get our flu vaccinations is to protect our patients,” said Ed Jimenez, UF Health Shands CEO. “The secondary reason is we’re protecting our co-workers. How often have you heard a phrase that resembles ‘I got sick from my co-worker?’ Let’s each make sure we’re not putting others at risk this flu season.”

If you haven’t received your flu vaccination yet, visit Flu Central at bridge.UFHealth.org/flu for more information.

Help us fight the flu — practice frequent hand hygiene, cover your cough or sneeze and stay home when you’re sick. Do your part to keep our patients, and each other, safe.