October 5, 2009 Benefits Consultation Meeting

ON Monday, HFT met with HISD in the monthly Benefits consultation. Of interest to members:

1. HISD is out of flu vaccine. HISD had ordered 10,000 doses of the seasonal flu vaccine to give to employees at campuses. Since HISD cannot store the vaccine over the months that they scheduled campus flu shots, the vaccine was to come in increments. However, the supplier is now out and cannot deliver the remaining doses. HISD said they have been to about 1/3 of the campuses they had scheduled and will now put the rest on hold until and IF they get the remaining doses. HISD stated that the supplier is not confident that they can get more until well into the flu season. One reason HISD ran out is that the program was more popular and more employees got shots than they anticipated from last years' numbers.

If you have not gotten the seasonal flu shot yet and wanted to get one, I suggest that you find a Walgreens or other outlet that still has the vaccine and get one ASAP. We were told that Kelsey Seybold is out and has a waiting list. So stores that have it now may not have it for long. This may be the best 25.00 you spend this year.

What concerned me is that people could get ill from H1N1, recover and come back to work and catch the seasonal flu while they are still weak and get extremely ill. Having one form of the flu does not give immunity to the other.

2. There was no update from HISD on the H1N1 vaccine and if, how or when that may be given at campuses. Again, if you or family members want this vaccine, I would not wait for campus vaccinations but get it when it becomes available to you.

3. NO HISD On-Site Clinic is open yet and there is no date for one to open. This summer, HISD had proposed to take away lower paid employee's benefits of FSA cards and discounts saying that the on-sight clinics would provide low or no cost care for these employees. HFT and HESP (our sister unit for cafeteria, custodial, and bus drivers) fought this and won. Now that HISD has not opened ONE clinic and put the plans on hold to open, we are even more happy to have won this battle or employees who cannot afford HISD coverage would have NOTHING!

4. Open Enrollment for Benefits is Nov. 3-18. Begin thinking about your plan and how it has worked for you and your family this year and changes you may want to make. Then be sure to make any changes before the deadline.

Submitted by: Joanna Pasternak, HFT Representative