The 2022-2023 employee influenza vaccination award for excellence has been awarded to Correctional Health Services for the second year in a row! Correctional Health Services achieved a 72% employee vaccination rate and an overall compliance rate of 96%. The Correctional Employee Health Services staff and leadership are to be commended for ensuring the inmate population and workforce are healthy during the influenza season, and their commitment to inmate safety has been demonstrated by these results. Correctional Health Services put into practice the LA County Health Officer’s and LA Health Services’ recommendations that the single best method to protect oneself and others against the flu is to get vaccinated.

Dr. Hal Yee, Chief Deputy, Director of Clinical Affairs of LA Health Services presented Timothy Belavich – the Director of Correctional Health Services, Edward Matzen – Chief Nursing Officer, Christina Eclarino – Nurse Manager and Alex Gonzalez – Supervisor of Employee Health Services with a commemorative plaque in recognition of this achievement. Special thanks to Employee Health’s Alex Gonzalez and Aimee Sanchez for their commitment to the workforce with their limited resources and the wide scope of physical locations they are responsible for.

The 2023-2024 flu season begins in a few months. As healthcare providers, it is our moral obligation to ensure the safety of our patients and co-workers. Please support your LA Health Services facility and plan to get vaccinated next season. Your facility could be the next recipient of the excellence award!