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 Americans 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.
Influenza activity in the United States during the 2023–2024 season (Oct. 1, 2023 – Aug. 31, 2024) was moderately severe, in line with pre-COVID-19 seasons for both timing and intensity. During this period, flu cases began increasing in early November and peaked in late December 2023.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that flu vaccines can reduce the risk of catching the flu. The CDC recommends updated 2024-2025 flu and COVID-19 vaccines to protect against severe illness this fall and winter. According to CDC data, 48% of adults aged 18 and older and 71% of adults aged 65 and older received an influenza vaccine in the past 12 months. the past 12 months.
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 OSHA compliant sharps containers
According to OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.1030(d)(4)(iii), healthcare facilities should place puncture-resistant, leak-proof containers in accessible patient care areas, so they’re easily accessible to staff. These receptacles should be clearly labeled 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 on OSHA’s Bloodborne Pathogen Standard as well as organization-specific sharps use protocols.
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 color 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.
