Charities and humanitarian organisations are dedicated to the well being of others. Through humanitarian efforts of every kind, organisations help those in need in every way possible. It comes as no surprise then that these same organisations often forget to look after their own well being and protection. When embarking on a humanitarian mission, especially in a third world country, preparation is key: after all, you cannot take care of others before first taking care of yourself.
Liability
Despite disclaimers and waivers, a staff member with your organisation is ultimately your responsibility. Having a member fall ill to something that could have been prevented by a vaccination could result in liability falling onto your charity. While your main focus is on your mission, those helping to fulfil it must be taken care of first. There is no warning given before a natural disaster strikes to allow you the time to vaccinate those that need it; it is incredibly important that all members of your charity are prepared in every way possible to respond the second they are needed. Vaccinations protect your staff, they protect your organisation, and they protect the individuals you will aid.
Be Prepared
Updated records of all jabs that have been received should be a requirement for any individual joining your organisation. While their willingness and enthusiasm towards serving your cause is of utmost importance, their personal health and preparedness should be a top priority. By preparing beforehand, you can inform each staff member of what jabs will be required before they will be permitted to respond to any sort of natural disaster. Prepare a list of required jabs and include it with the basic paperwork as well as your preferred provider of corporate travel vaccinations.
Make It Mandatory and Do It Together
By mandating that vaccination records be required, any organisation can eliminate the risk of a staff member falling seriously ill while responding to a natural disaster. Explain to each staff member of the risk involved to not only themselves but the other staff members and those that they are serving. Offer regular visits for the whole staff to a facility so that everyone can easily stay up to date and do it as a team.
Regular Reviews
Make regular reviews of vaccination records a routine part of the quarterly schedule. Set aside a specific date and time to check that every staff member is up to date, and provide notices and a deadline to those who are in need of vaccinations. Many organisations hesitate to provide a strict deadline for a staff member because failure to meet it means that you will need to dismiss them until they are once again up to date. While it can often be difficult to keep charity organisations fully staffed, it is better to have fewer individuals who are completely prepared than to deal with the repercussions of a staff member falling ill or worse due to lack of necessary jabs.
– Why Vaccination Records Are Essential:
Keeping records of every individual’s vaccinations is of paramount importance when it comes to the health and safety of your staff. Having a record will provide you with the assurance that each staff member is up to date on all necessary jabs, allowing them to immediately respond in times of distress without having to worry about their own wellbeing.
– Prioritising Your Health as an Organisation:
It can be easy for humanitarian organisations or charities not only forget about themselves but also overlook potential risks that they may face while providing aid. By mandating that vaccination records are required before any mission can commence, you are guaranteed that no one person will become a liability for your organisation and allow everyone within it to remain protected from any harm that could come their way. Furthermore encouraging visits from the whole team together keeps morale high and creates a sense of camaraderie within your organisation.