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H1N1 shot a sick sign of the public healthcare
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A nurse fills a syringe with the H1N1 vaccine.
(AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)
(AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)
The Federal Government’s handling of the H1N1 flu shots is probably an indicator of what to expect should healthcare be nationalized. With a population of over 300 million, only 38 million doses were available through the first 10 days of November, which is well into the flu season. This is a sick sign of what public healthcare could become - which is potentially devastating to business.
Those business leaders that have gotten behind the program seem to be looking at the dollars they are spending on healthcare insurance versus what it will be when they make their decision to drop healthcare coverage in lieu of turning over employees to the public option. Given the economics this would be the smart decision for most companies as penalties are lower than the cost of insurance plus staff to administer the benefit.
The story not making headlines is the human impact of nationalized healthcare to the business community.
Although Congress has asserted the US plan will be unique, both Canada and the US are dispensing the shots in the same manner. Each county sets up their own distribution plan, including times and locations. Both countries have limited eligibility to pregnant women, caregivers of children young children, those under 24 years of age, persons aged 25 through 64 years old who have underlying health conditions, and health care workers.
In Oakland County, Michigan, distribution is done at the Palace of Auburn Hills on selected days. They begin early in the afternoon and continue into the evening. Lines on the first day were 3 hours long.
Businesses are faced with two problems that need to be addresses quickly:
· Key individuals are not in the selected groups of eligible recipients. With downsized staffs there are many functions handled by only one individual. Businesses need to work out a plan to cover those responsibilities should the person handling them miss several days or a week because of the flu. Due to the contagious nature of H1N1, businesses are likely to lose multiple employees at the same time -- something that will hit small businesses especially hard.
· Allowing time to receive the shot. For those individuals that do fall into the target group they must somehow work into their employee’s schedule the time to get the shot. The timing in Oakland County over-layered the second shift at the automotive companies, for example. Businesses must have a policy to make a reasonable consideration to allow for going to the shot dispensing location.
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