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BBVA initiates its campaign against Type A flu
28 September 2009
BBVA has published details of the new vaccination campaign against seasonal flu on its intranet site Salud Laboral (Health at Work). This year it pays particular attention on hygiene and sanitary recommendations to avoid contagion from the virus H1N1, commonly known as Type A flu, and includes a protocol for action against this variety of flu.
As is normal at this time of year, the campaign against seasonal flu has begun in the BBVA offices where there are medical staff. The health departments of the autonomous regions have established timetables and conditions for applying the vaccinations. Anyone can apply at the local health center, where they will be told whether the corresponding vaccination should be given. The start of the vaccination campaigns against the common flu will begin between September 14th and 28th in all the autonomous regions.
As in previous years, this vaccination is particularly recommended for people who are in one of the groups considered at risk (patients suffering from heart disease, respiratory disease or chronic liver disease, diabetics, pregnant women, international travelers or people of an advanced age), although its use is not restricted to these cases.
The Medical Service of the BBVA has published a number of recommendations and protocols for action on its intranet portal to preserve the health and safety of its collaborators and to ensure that the organization can continue its activity in the face of the combined effects of the seasonal flu and type-A flu. These recommendations are governed by guidelines issued by the Spanish health authorities and the World Health Organization (WHO). The aim of this BBVA campaign is to promote prevention and inform its team of collaborators fully of all the aspects related to these illnesses.
Information and prevention: the best treatment against Type A flu
This year, the arrival of Type A flu has made it necessary to design and implement a special action plan. The Type A flue is produced by a new virus that may have a higher than normal rate of contagion. Nevertheless, it infections by this virus tend to evolve favorably, and at present it is not considered a serious illness.
For BBVA, prevention and information are the best treatment against this pandemic. Due to the risk that contagion may affect a greater number of employees than expected, and more than the seasonal flu, BBVA has this fall extended its program of flu prevention, with a special action plan against Type A flu.
The Health Portal gives information on the symptoms of type-A flu, recommendations on preventing its spread, how to act in specific cases of pregnant women, people with immune deficiency, etc. and, finally, instructions to follow for team leaders if one or more of their collaborators are affected.
BBVA has also obtained commitments from cleaning companies and food suppliers that they will take the necessary precautions and ensure compliance with the recommendations of the health authorities. It has bought specific material for this campaign, including masks and hand disinfectants. Their distribution and use will depend on the recommendations issued at any time by BBVA’s medical service.
As well as this information, and to clarify any doubts that may arise, the BBVA Health at Work team have set up a telephone service for their collaborators in Spain (SAE Gripe A, on the telephone numbers 91 537 6363 – 76464), where they will answer the most common questions relating to this new illness.
Prepared for Type A flu
A BBVA multidisciplinary team has been working for months to guarantee that business will continue as usual if contagion rises above expected levels. Since the first cases and their impact were noted in Mexico, and subsequently in Argentina and Chile, BBVA has developed specific plans to guarantee the health of its employees and ensure that its customers receive the level of service and attention they expect at all times.
The Continuity committees have coordinated this activity. All the possible scenarios of the spread of infection have been envisaged, and plans have been made for the actions that should be implemented at any time.
Working teams with functions considered critical for the operation of the organization have already been defined and prepared, and the logistics to develop these and other functions through teleworking, contingency plans, communication and information strategies are also in place and ready for implementation in case they should be needed.
