The flu is no laughing matter. Each year there are more than 111 million sick days taken from the flu which leads to 7 billion dollars in lost productivity. Flu season officially starts in October and ends in May, making summer the ideal time to start preparing your workforce. This can mean educating people on simple things they can do in order to stay healthy; like washing their hands throughout the day, carrying tissues, and drinking the recommended 64 ounces of water every day. So what can you, the employer do? Provide employee flu shots.
The importance of getting vaccinated?
In short, it keeps you, and those around you, healthy. According to the CDC, the vaccine caused a 71% reduction in hospitalizations among all adults. If young children, the elderly, adults with chronic health conditions, and those who cannot get the flu shot are exposed to the disease through you, it can be incredibly dangerous for them. The vaccine will not only protect you from exposure but it’s the first step to protecting those close to you.
So what are my options?
According to the CDC, the most important step is to get the flu vaccine as early as possible once the vaccine becomes available, typically the end of August. The vaccine takes two weeks to work, creating antibodies in your body that protect you from all strains of the virus. Every person over the age of 6 months should get the flu vaccine. There are many iterations to avoid allergies and other complications one might have with getting the traditional shot. Ask your doctor about which shot would be right for you.
Where do I get my vaccine?
Vaccines are widely available and pretty easy to get. Most walk-in clinics or urgent care centers will offer the vaccine in the upcoming months. CVS Pharmacy and MinuteClinic provide flu shots with and without appointments. You can also get the vaccine at doctor’s offices and flu clinics across the country.
Think about employee flu shots
It’s important for employers to keep their office healthy and informed of the effects of the flu. If one person in the office gets the flu it can cause an office-wide epidemic, causing an increase in absenteeism rates, and ultimately affect their bottom line. Making the flu vaccine easier for employees to get is both more profitable and will make employees healthier and more productive. One of the easiest ways to incentivize employees to get employee flu shots is by giving them a CVS pharmacy Flu Shot eGift card. The eGift card can be handed out at the beginning of flu season or added to your health and wellness rewards program.
To learn more about the vaccine read this article from the CDC.
