Fall is here, which means flu season has arrived too. With cold weather comes an increase in flu cases and a greater need for proactive immunization.
The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by the influenza virus, spreading through the air when infected people cough or sneeze. Complications from the flu can lead to severe illness, hospitalization, or even death for those at risk of developing serious complications. Flu season is a busy time for healthcare professionals, as millions of Canadians roll up their sleeves in hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies across the country to receive the latest seasonal flu, COVID-19, or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine.
The dominant flu strain this year is expected to be influenza H3N2, along with H1N1 and influenza B. Based on trends from countries in the southern hemisphere, this year’s influenza activity in Canada should be considered average, according to an infectious disease specialist at Queen’s University.
The Public Health Agency of Canada indicates that flu vaccines can reduce the risk of catching the flu and recommends getting an updated 2024-2025 flu and COVID-19 vaccines to protect against severe illness this fall and winter. According to the Government of Canada, as of the first week of November adults aged 65 and older have the highest number of influenza detections.
What Happens to All the Sharps and Needles?
Healthcare providers, including pharmacies, private practices, and hospitals know that effective immunization programs are essential, especially as flu season approaches. With the high number of flu shots administered, healthcare facilities like doctors’ offices and retail pharmacies must properly dispose of the large volume of used needles. Proper disposal procedures reduce the risk of accidental needlesticks, preventing bloodborne pathogen transmission and ensure staff safety.
Here are some tips for effective needle disposal and staff protection.
1. Use compliant sharps containers
In accordance with the National Standard of Canada (CAN)/CSA Standard CAN/CSAZ317.10, healthcare facilities should be placed in a puncture-resistant container in accessible patient care areas, so they’re easily accessible to staff. These receptacles should be clearly labelled and designed to securely hold contaminated sharps until disposal. Consider how and where the containers will be used; features such as a vertical drop lid could provide more convenience in certain workspaces.
2. Educate staff on proper procedures
If healthcare workers don’t understand the proper procedures and best practices for managing sharps before, during, and after use, they’re more likely to make mistakes, leading to injuries. All healthcare employees should undergo regular training as determined by the Provincial Ministry of Labour and the related Occupational Health and Safety Acts, the Federal and Provincial Ministry of the Environment as well as organization-specific protocols. It is important to understand the federal, provincial, and municipal requirements and to make sure you have the appropriate training in place.
Healthcare organizations should also teach employees how to properly segregate waste, which helps protect staff and other waste workers, including:
- Segregating waste at the point of generation
- Clearly defining policies and processes, such as using labels and colour codes
- Separating sharps from non-sharps and placing only sharps in sharps containers
3. Establish a reliable process for container removal
Without a container replacement process, sharps containers can exceed fill lines, putting staff at risk. Stericycle offers various container sizes and service models that can be tailored to facility needs and waste volumes. We provide reusable, mail-back, and disposable sharps containers, as well as full-service and self-service options for sharps container exchange, supporting a variety of healthcare facilities and businesses. Having enough sharps containers available, especially during peak times like flu season, can prevent overflow that may lead to needlestick injuries.
Stericycle can help support your healthcare facility’s vaccination programs, helping you and your employees stay safe and compliant. Contact us to learn how we can assist your healthcare organization.
