Gilda Valdez, SEIU Local 721

The Partnership for Quality Care (PQC) held a press conference at LAC+USC Medical Center today urging all health care workers to get a flu vaccination to keep themselves, their patients, their colleagues and their families safe.   The event featured L.A. County Department of Health Services Director and PQC Board Member Dr. Mitchell Katz and SEIU Local 721 Chief of Staff Gilda Valdez.

The flu season has yet to hit its peak, but officials today stressed that the best time to get the flu vaccine is now, before the illness begins to spread more widely.

“Getting immunized dramatically decreases your chances of contracting this dangerous disease,” Dr. Katz said.  “Yet the CDC estimates fewer than half of adult Americans get immunized every year.  Many people don’t get immunized because of misconceptions about the process, but getting a flu shot is easy, completely safe and is available at no cost to health workers at County-run hospitals.”

SEIU Local 721 Chief of Staff Gilda Valdez spoke of the members’ pride of doing everything they could to help their patients fight the flu.

“Our members know first hand how devastating the flu can be,” said Valdez. “At SEIU Local 721, our members across Southern California are committed to fighting the flu.  They are making sure their co-workers, their families, their communities and their patients are protected against this serious illness.   Together with PQC and the L.A. County Department of Health Services, we will continue this important effort to ensure that health care workers get immunized.”

Los Angeles County Department of Health Services physician Dr. Ken Zangwill, who works at the County’s Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, praised the partnership between health care providers and caregivers to improve the health and safety of everyone in the community, and stressed the importance of getting immunized before the peak of flu season.

“We are united by a deep commitment to our patients, to our colleagues and to our families,” said Dr. Zangwill.  “Now is the time to get your shot.  Getting a shot in the early part of the flu season means you’re doing your part to keep yourself, your family, your co-workers and your community healthy.”

The Partnership for Quality Care is a national labor-management coalition committed to ensuring quality, affordable healthcare for everyone in America. It includes public, private, religious, teaching, and non-profit hospitals nationwide and integrated health systems and the nation’s largest healthcare union, SEIU, with more than one million nurses, doctors and healthcare workers. Our members care for more than 50 million patients annually. Visit www.pqc-usa.org.