Health

Tamiflu Questions

2011-06-28T21:43:04Z

Tamiflu Questions

What is Tamiflu?

Tamiflu is an antiviral medication that is used to treat adults and children with influenza A and B. Tamiflu attacks the virus and prevents it from spreading in your body.

Has Marathon Oil purchased Tamiflu?

Thanks to the support of management, Marathon Oil has developed extensive response plans to address a potential pandemic flu outbreak. One part of our preparedness included the purchase of Tamiflu which is an antiviral medication. Marathon Oil currently has access to adequate supplies of Tamiflu for distribution t as deemed appropriate and necessary by Marathon Oil's medical staff.

How much medication does Marathon Oil have?

We believe we have an adequate quantity of Tamiflu to address both the needs of the company to maintain a healthy workforce during a pandemic, and to help our employees and their dependents with medication needs should they not be able to obtain antivirals through the local health care system during a pandemic. If you are unable to get Tamiflu through the normal process, it will be made available through the Marathon Oil Company Wellness Plan.

Who will be provided the medication?

First and foremost, if you or a member of your family becomes ill, you need to see your primary care giver to assess the illness. If your doctor believes that medication is warranted, they should prescribe it. If you are unable to get Tamiflu through the normal process, Marathon Oil will make some of the medication we have purchased available to you.

How will Tamiflu be distributed?

We are currently working with third party vendors to finalize the best way for the Wellness Plan to distribute the medication, so we do not have all the details developed at this time. Your first action, if you or a family member becomes ill, should be to go to your primary care giver. He or she may write you a prescription that can be filled at your local pharmacy. If you are not able to acquire the medication through your pharmacy, we are planning on having medication available to fill these gaps.

Can Tamiflu be taken in advance to prevent the flu?

One of the problems with prophylactic treatment is that the virus could change to become resistant to the medication so we do not recommend this. In limited cases, we may provide medication in advance to employees who have an increased risk of exposure and/or no health care options available to them.

Questions Asked By Marathon Oil Employees

2011-06-28T21:41:44Z

Question: Who decides when to call it a pandemic outbreak,
company officers or health care providers?

Answer: The Center for Disease Control and the World Health Organization are constantly monitoring the situation. When and if there appears to be sustained human-to-human transmission, these agencies will detect and relay this information worldwide. We plan to track the World Health Organization alert level and implement practices as necessary.

Question: In a pandemic outbreak, do we not come to work? One of the suggested ways to decrease your chances of getting the disease is to stay away from crowds. In coming to work, you're always in small groups or large groups, depending on meetings and such. Is the company planning for that eventuality, working from home?

Answer: You are correct about the importance of "social distancing". Each business unit is developing plans that will go into effect if the transmission of the virus is sustained on human-to-human basis. There would be varied approaches depending on your job function. We are currently looking at telecommuting for some employees while we recognize that others may need to be in an office building. Meeting and social distancing are all part of the planning process. There are also provisions for masks and gloves to be used at all locations. Once the plans are completed, more details concerning implementation will be provided.

Question: I have severe asthma and allergies. Is there anything in particular that I could do to prepare myself against the dangers?

Answer: First, talk to your doctor about getting seasonal flu vaccinations. You will want to follow the hygiene recommendations in the brochure and you should be sure to view the CBT when it is available. If the world moves to pandemic phase 4 or above, we'll be providing more detailed information on the pandemic website and in printed publications.

Question: I am a terminal operator and come in contact with hundreds of drivers everyday. Also, my husband works for Marathon Oil as a transport driver. What type of precautions should we take to protect ourselves?

Answer: As part of Marathon Oil's pandemic plan, we are working with TT&M and the other business units to provide protective equipment (masks and gloves) for employees who come in contact with many other employees or the public. You and your husband both will get supplies and instructions for on-the-job protection.

Question: Would the swine flu vaccination that many of us had in the 1970's have any protection left?

Answer: No, even though that was also called swine flu it’s not the same virus so a previous vaccination for that would not help.

How Would Pandemic Flu Be Different

2009-04-30T04:51:54Z

Seasonal Flu Symptoms:

Occurs each winter
Symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose
and muscle pain
The very young and the very old are most at risk
A vaccine is available

Pandemic Flu Symptoms:

Occurs about three times each century
Symptoms may be more severe than common flu
People of every age may be at risk
A vaccine will probably not be available at first

Will the Seasonal Flu Shot Protect

2007-01-02T16:27:17Z

No, the seasonal flu shot will not protect you against pandemic flu. However, you should still get a seasonal flu shot if available. This will not prevent pandemic flu, but it can decrease the chance of mistaking it for seasonal flu.

How Can I Decrease my Chances

2007-01-02T16:28:38Z

Personal Health Practices:

Wash your hands frequently with soap and water.
Use waterless sanitizing gel if soap and water are unavailable.
Wash your hands:
- After sneezing, coughing, blowing your nose or
  using any shared keyboards, phones or tools.
- Prior to touching your face, mouth or nose and
  before eating.
- After contact with any ill person.
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you
cough or sneeze.
Put used tissues in a waste basket.
Cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve
if you don't have a tissue.
Keep your distance - at least 3 feet or 1 meter -
from people who are ill, coughing or sneezing.
Drink plenty of fluids, eat sensibly, avoid exhaustion
and exercise in moderation.
In a pandemic, avoid crowds and public transport.

Vaccines: If available, you should get a seasonal vaccine (a flu shot) every year. A specific pandemic influenza vaccine cannot be produced until a pandemic flu virus strain emerges and is identified. Once a pandemic flu virus has been identified, it will likely take 4-6 months to develop, test and begin producing a vaccine.

Antiviral Medications: A number of antiviral drugs are approved to treat and sometimes prevent seasonal flu. Some of these antivirals may be effective in treating pandemic flu. These drugs may help prevent infection in people at risk and shorten the duration of symptoms of those infected with influenza. However, it is unlikely that antivirals alone would effectively contain the spread of pandemic flu.

Governments around the world are stockpiling antivirals that would most likely be used in the early stages of an influenza pandemic. Prescription antiviral drugs can help prevent the disease if you have been exposed and can be used to treat pandemic flu, but supplies may be limited.