To: UnityPoint Health – Des Moines Volunteers
Date: September 12, 2023
Subject: 2023 Annual Influenza Vaccination Details
2023 ANNUAL INFLUENZA (FLU) VACCINATION DETAILS
Receiving a flu vaccine is one of the most important ways that UnityPoint Health – Des Moines team members and volunteers can protect ourselves, our patients, and our community. We are incredibly grateful that you continue to show your dedication to your volunteer role and our mission by supporting our annual flu vaccination process.
All UnityPoint Health team members and volunteers are required to receive the influenza (flu) vaccine each year, unless a medical or religious exemption is requested and approved by the hospital’s Employee Health Services department.
FLU VACCINE DEADLINES
All team members and volunteers are required to receive and provide documentation of their flu vaccine by October 31, 2023, or submit an exemption to UnityPoint Health – Des Moines Employee Health Services by October 24, 2023. More information on this process is listed in the sections below.
FLU VACCINE OPTIONS
There are many ways you can receive your flu vaccine, such as:
• Your primary care provider
• Your local pharmacy (Hy-Vee, CVS, Walgreens, etc.)
• Your local public health department
• One of the UnityPoint Health – Des Moines Flu Vaccine Walk-In Clinics (dates, times and locations listed in another section of this communication)
(515)
SUBMITTING PROOF OF FLU VACCINE
(515) 263-5227
(515)
• If you receive your flu shot at one of the UnityPoint Health – Des Moines Employee Health Flu Vaccine Walk-In clinics: There is nothing additional you need to do – Employee Health will have your record and will let Volunteer Services know that you have received your vaccine.
• If you receive your flu shot from your primary care provider, a pharmacy, public health department or community flu vaccine event: You must provide proof of your flu vaccine to Volunteer Services for our records. Please ask the person who administers your flu vaccine to provide you with proof of your flu vaccine. Once you have this information, you may:
o Email a copy of your proof of flu vaccine record to Melinda (Mindy) Brightman, Volunteer Services Office Manager, at Melinda.Brightman@unitypoint.org
o Bring your proof of flu vaccine record into one of our Volunteer Services Offices for a member of the Volunteer Services team to make a copy.
Important: Please keep a copy of your proof of vaccine for your records.
INFLUENZA VACCINE SCHEDULE
For UnityPoint Health – Des Moines team members and volunteers who would like to receive a flu vaccine at our hospitals, Employee Health Services is offering walk-in clinics in October. No appointments are needed for these clinics – simply show up to the hospital campus and location listed below.
2023 UNITYPOINT HEALTH – DES MOINES FLU VACCINE WALK-IN CLINICS
For UnityPoint Health team members and volunteers – no appointment needed
EXEMPTION REQUEST
We recognize that there are a small number of team members and volunteers who have a need for medical or religious exemptions. Exemption requests must be made (the form completed and submitted to Employee Health Services) by October 24, 2023. If you are seeking an Exemption Request, you must contact your Volunteer Coordinator or member of the Volunteer Services team to receive an Exemption Request form. Once you receive the form, it is your responsibility to complete the form and submit it to Melinda (Mindy) Brightman by email no later than Noon o Tuesday, October 24. Please keep a copy of the completed form for your records.
NON-COMPLIANCE
• Active volunteers who have not received the influenza vaccine or received an approved exemption by the end of day on Tuesday, October 31 will be removed from volunteer shifts and will be unable to volunteer.
• Any volunteers currently on Leave of Absence (LOA): Prior to returning to volunteer, you will need to receive a vaccine and submit proof of their vaccine to a member of the Volunteer Services team.
WHY DOES UNITYPOINT HEALTH REQUIRE THE INFLUENZA VACCINE?
As a health care organization, our patients rely on us to keep them safe. It is our responsibility to protect those we care for and work with, as well as lead by example in the communities we serve. It’s important that we do everything we can to keep people safe and healthy and that includes reducing the spread of influenza by requiring our team members to receive the vaccination.
IS UNITYPOINT HEALTH REQUIRING COVID-19 BOOSTERS?
No, a COVID-19 booster vaccination is not required. All team members and volunteers are encouraged to receive a booster.
QUESTIONS AND MORE INFORMATION
As always, we encourage you to reach out to any member of the Volunteer Services team with questions. Please see contact information on the next page.
Thank you for your continued support and service – we appreciate you!
UnityPoint Health – Des Moines Volunteer Services
1200 Pleasant Street Des Moines, IA 50309
(515) 263-5227 Iowa Lutheran Hospital
(515) 241-6414 Iowa Methodist Medical Center
(515) 343-1088 Methodist West Hospital unitypoint.org/desmoines/volunteers
UNITYPOINT HEALTH – DES MOINES VOLUNTEER SERVICES TEAM
Ashley Thompson, Executive Director
(515) 537-6089 cell
Ashley.Thompson@unitypoint.org
Mindy Brightman, Office Manager
Melinda.Brightman@unitypoint.org
(515) 241-5343 office
Caroline Baker, Volunteer Coordinator – Blank Children’s & Iowa Methodist Medical Center
Caroline.Baker@unitypoint.org
(515) 241-8140 office
Megan Delanty, Volunteer Coordinator – Iowa Lutheran Hospital
Megan.Delanty@unitypoint.org
(515) 263-5475 office
Riley Maher, Volunteer Coordinator – Iowa Lutheran Hospital
Riley.Maher@unitypoint.org
(515) 263-5231 office
Sheri Vining, Volunteer Coordinator – Methodist West Hospital
Sheri.Vining@unitypoint.org
(515) 343-1088 office
Thank you for your continued support and service – we appreciate you!