Influenza Vaccine Upon recommendation of the Medical Officer of Health, all employees shall be required, on an annual basis to be vaccinated and or to take antiviral medication for influenza. If the costs of such medication are not covered by some other sources, the Employer will pay the cost for such medication. If the employee fails to take the required medication, she may be placed on an unpaid leave of absence during any influenza outbreak in the home until such time as the employee has been cleared by the public health or the Employer to return to the work environment. The only exception to this would be employees for whom taking the medication will result in the employee being physically ill to the extent that she cannot attend work. Upon written direction from the employee’s physician of such medical condition in consultation with the Employer’s physician, (if requested), the employee will be permitted to access their sick bank, if any, during any outbreak period. If there is a dispute between the physicians, the employee will be placed on unpaid leave. If the employee gets sick as a reaction to the drug and applies for WSIB the Employer will not oppose the application. If an employee is pregnant and her physician believes the pregnancy could be in jeopardy as a result of the influenza inoculation and/or the antiviral medication she shall be eligible for sick leave in circumstances where she is not allowed to attend at work as a result of an outbreak. This clause shall be interpreted in a manner consistent with the Ontario Human Rights Code.
Screening After you sign and date the consent document, you will begin screening. The purpose of the screening is to find out if you meet all of the requirements to take part in the study. Procedures that will be completed during the study (including screening) are described below. If you do not meet the requirements, you will not be able to take part in the study. The study investigator or study staff will explain why. As part of screening, you must complete all of the items listed below: • Give your race, age, gender, and ethnicity • Give your medical history o You must review and confirm the information in your medical history questionnaire • Give your drug, alcohol, and tobacco use history • Give your past and current medication and treatment history. This includes any over-the-counter or prescription drugs, such as vitamins, dietary supplements, or herbal supplements, taken in the past 28 days • Height and weight will be measured • Physical exam will be done • Electrocardiogram (ECG) will be collected. An ECG measures the electrical activity of the heart • You may be tested for COVID-19 o Blood tests for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B, and hepatitis C o Blood tests to see how your blood clots ▪ Fibrinogen ▪ PT/INR/aPTT o Blood tests for amylase and lipase (enzymes that help with digestion, Part B only) o Blood tests for a lipid (fats) panel (Part B only) ▪ Total cholesterol ▪ Triglycerides ▪ HDL ▪ Direct HDL o Blood tests to check your thyroid function (Part B and Part C only) ▪ TSH ▪ Free T4 o Urine to test for drugs of abuse (illegal and prescription) o Urine tests to check your albumin/ creatinine ratio o Females who have not had a period for at least 12 months in a row will have a blood hormone test to confirm they cannot have children • The study investigator may decide to do an alcohol breath test • The use of proper birth control will be reviewed (males only) • You will be asked “How do you feel?” HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C will be tested at screening. If anyone is exposed to your blood during the study, you will have these tests done again. If you have a positive test, you cannot be in or remain in the study. HIV is the virus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). If your HIV test is positive, you will be told about the results. It may take weeks or months after being infected with HIV for the test to be positive. The HIV test is not always right. Having certain infections or positive test results may have to be reported to the State Department of Health. This includes results for HIV, hepatitis, and other infections. If you have any questions about what information is required to be reported, please ask the study investigator or study staff. Although this testing is meant to be private, complete privacy cannot be guaranteed. For example, it is possible for a court of law to get health or study records without your permission.
