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MINUTES ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH February 5, 2003 Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by V. Anne Miles 6 February 5, 2003 Klein, and carried without dissent. F. Smallpox Employee Policy Rosemary Summers distributed a copy of a smallpox employee policy passed in Wake County. The department has proposed a similar plan that would help protect our employees. It would bridge the gap for our employees who are going to receive the smallpox vaccination. As it stands, workman’s compensation insurance would not cover lost wages until the seventh day of illness. This would leave a gap of seven days that would come out of an employee’s sick leave time. It is the department’s view that if an employee is vaccinated against smallpox, although voluntary is a job related vaccination that enables the department to respond in the event of an outbreak. The proposed policy would allow the county to give those vaccinated employees, if they are ill, up to seven sick days without charging those days to the sick leave they normally accrue. Another proposal that this policy would address is payment for any uncovered co-pays during that period of time. Liability for those providing the vaccinations to others is covered under the federal Homeland Security Act. Phase I is tentatively scheduled to begin the first week of March. Motion to support the Health Department Smallpox Phase I vaccination program for county staff on a volunteer basis was made by Lee Werley, seconded by Jonathan Klein, and carried without dissent. G. Tobacco Update Rosemary Summers reported that the Orange County School Board is considering a 100% tobacco free policy. The policy would ban the use of tobacco products anywhere on campus including outdoor events. A first reading of the proposed policy was held at the last school board meeting. Maria Hitt and Rosemary Summers attended that meeting and spoke in support of the policy. A second reading will be held at the next meeting of the school board and Board of Health members are encouraged to attend and voice their support. The Department of Public Instruction has passed a policy that will be fully implemented by 2005-2007 that each school district is required to have a school health advisory council that will consider all eight components recommended by the CDC of a consolidated school health program. This school health advisory council will require a health department representative. Chapel Hill Carrboro School System has a school health advisory council in place already. Rosemary Summers proposed that an offer of a joint meeting be made to the Orange County School Board Chair by the Board of Health Chair to talk about health issues in schools. The PHEADS Committee would be directed to develop a proposed agenda for this meeting. Jonathan Klein will attend the next Board of Commissioners meeting to address Commissioners on the tobacco tax proposal.