Development of a Policy Document Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Development of a Policy Document - Essay Example This essay stresses that the first of the non-physical elements is that clinical staff likely to be exposed to the infection during the pandemic must be given anti-viral vaccinations to boost their immunity to reduce their contracting the infection. Such a step is recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices of the United States of America as vaccination is the primary prevention method. In addition to the anti viral vaccine to boost the prevention steps all clinical staff must go on an antiviral drug regime. Anyone of the antiviral drugs of oseltamivir, zanamivir, amantadine or rimantadine may be used for this purpose (Plans, 2008). In spite of all these measures, should a clinical staff suspect signs of influenza, then the clinical staff should remain at home and not come to work reducing the risk of transmission of the infection. The normal period during which it is possible to transmit the infection is five days and so this isolation period should be for a mini mal period of five days This paper makes a conclusion that the potential risk for an influenza pandemic is high and can occur at any time. Developing policy documents to address the various aspects of an influenza pandemic is thus a real concern. Clinical staffs are at a high risk for contracting the infection due to the nature of their work. This paper develops a policy document with the objective of minimizing the risk of clinical staff contracting the infection as they go about their job functions.