OPM Director Issues Memo, Encourages Federal Employees to Get H1N1 and Seasonal Flu Vaccines
October 13, 2009
On September 15, 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration licensed the 2009 HINI influenza vaccine. The 2009 HINI vaccine is not intended to replace the seasonal flu vaccine—it is intended to be used alongside seasonal flu vaccine. Vaccination is the best way to prevent influenza infection and its complications. For this reason, we [OPM] are encouraging Federal agencies to provide vaccine and intensively promote vaccination against the 2009 HINI flu as well as seasonal flu. The Federal Government will offer the 2009 H1N1 vaccine to its employees and will follow national guidelines for prioritization of the 2009 H1N1 vaccine, as outlinedbelow. All Federal employees, except those with a severe allergy to eggs, are encouraged to get vaccinated against the 2009 H1N1 flu.
Read OPM Director Jon Berry's Memo
The legislation also contains provisions giving retiring employees enrolled in the Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) credit for their unused sick leave and extends locality pay to workers stationed outside of the mainland United States.
The bill, arguably the most important for federal employees in years, will now be subject to approval by the Senate. Sources on Capitol Hill suggest that the Senate will consider the legislation sometime early next week. While Senate passage is likely, there is a possibility of provisions unrelated to the federal workforce sinking the bill in the Senate.
"We are very close to passing the most important piece of legislation for federal workers in the last decade," said NAGE Federal Legislative Director Randy Erwin. "NAGE members should be calling their Senators and asking them to support the Defense Authorization conference report."
You can call your Senators by dialing the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121.