Seasonal Influenza Vaccine and Handwashing - LPNI

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Seasonal Influenza Vaccine and Handwashing

Health Topic – December 2020

December and Christmas present to us the opportunities to be in small to larger groups. Because of all of the “crowd consciousness” with social distancing and preventive health practices related to the Novel Coronavirus-19, many of our holiday traditions and experiences will be varied this year. Traditional and expected holiday travel will most likely be limited. Perhaps sending Christmas cards and family report letters with photos will be even more prolific and meaningful this year. Sending flowers and food gifts, making phone calls and “Zooming” with virtual celebrations will most likely increase. Change from what we have known in the past is in the air.

The annual US Health Recognitions and Observances of December are even more important than before. Two that are the most important are Flu Vaccination Awareness (and making a concerted national public health effort in at least the USA to get “flu shots” this year either the regular strength or the 65+) and Handwashing Awareness. Many people are required by their employment to get the annual “flu shot”. Many more individuals and families are encouraged to get this and to have gotten it as early as possible this year to help prevent getting the seasonal influenza in their households and maybe even prevent them, if exposed, from getting a more serious case of C-19??? The providers of the annual vaccine have ordered more than usual and still have run out at a number of facilities. Flu clinics have modified delivery to accommodate people with a “drive thru” clinic. These have increased in popularity and health care organizations have honed their expertise with this after providing COVID-19 testing in a “drive thru” format.

Because of the emphasis on handwashing most people have deliberately paid attention to really washing rather than running their hands under some water with a dab of soap and mainly rubbing only their palms together. Those who were not previously in health care are now washing their palms, back of the hands, fingers and between fingers, their wrists and using towels to turn off the faucet. For many years the health care population has been instructed and required to wash “right” and to turn off the faucet with a towel when done. Further this new washing is taking more than a few seconds to do adequately and appropriately. It is similar to brushing teeth for two full minutes using the regular timing of “think-singing” the Happy Birthday song or the Alphabet Song.

Hand sanitizer is an excellent adjunct to washing with soap and water, but not an absolute substitute. Opening door handles with a sleeve-protected hand or with elbows and shoulders helps to prevent contact with surfaces that could be covered with various “germs” of bacteria and viruses, as well as “dirt”. This also applies to elevator buttons. Punching keypads at stores, banks, eating establishment, etc. can be safely accomplished with using the eraser end of a pencil or the rubber tip of a pen designed for this very purpose. This is important especially on the surfaces that are not routinely sanitized or deeply cleaned. These are new and serious terms that have replaced “wiped off”, “dusted”, or “cleaned” as we previously knew them. All of this is in the name of preventive health and developing new and more healthful behaviors for one’s self and for others. To all of you, I wish for you and yours a very Blessed Merry Christmas and a Healthy and Happy New Year!

Jamie Spikes, PhD, RN

Parish Nurse, St. Luke’s Lutheran Church

Manhattan, KS USA

jamiespikes@gmail.com