Why offer a flu program?

Up to 111 Million Lost Workdays Costing American Business $7.0B

Each year in the United States, influenza results in approximately 25 million healthcare visits, more than 200,000 hospitalizations and 36,000 deaths. Beyond the human toll, influenza also results in a huge indirect economic loss for society, estimated to be as much as $20 billion annually. A CDC study shows that sick days and lost productivity can be decreased by 32 to 45 percent with flu vaccination of healthy working adults, thereby reducing the estimated $7 billion cost to American businesses alone.

The Benefits of Flu Vaccination

Influenza vaccination has been shown to reduce the impact of flu on people, health services, and the economy, when the vaccine and circulating influenza strains are well matched.

• up to 44% reduction in physician visits for upper respiratory illnesses in healthy working adults
• 34% reduction in days of illness
• up to 45% reduction in lost work days
• up to 28% decrease in antibiotic use for flu-associated illnesses

This translates to lowered insurance costs, decreased company costs and increased employee productivity.

Threat of a flu Pandemic

While the seasonal flu shot has always been an important benefit to offer your employees, the threat of a Flu Pandemic makes it more important than ever. While not a vaccine for the Pandemic Flu virus, the CDC and WHO recommend flu shots because:

• Seasonal flu presents with the same symptoms as Avian Flu, so inoculation may help prevent misdiagnosis in the event of a Pandemic.
• Seasonal flu shots help keep you healthy, thus reducing your risk of contracting other illnesses.
• Pandemic flu can occur from a recombination of genes with the seasonal flu. The seasonal flu shot may give some immunity if a Pandemic occurs this way.