Flu Vaccination Medicals
It's important to get thinking about a Flu Vaccination program for your workplace as soon as possible to ensure adequate supply of the vaccine, but to also protect your employees against influenza. Whilst the vaccine is generally released around February/March each year we begin taking orders for the next season as early as October and November the year before.
DID YOU KNOW THE VACCINATION CHANGES EVERY YEAR?
Many people think that once they have had the flu vaccination they are covered for many years, but unfortunately due to the ever evolving influenza virus, annual vaccination is recommended to provide optimal protections through the season. In 2015, the influenza vaccination contains the following strains of influenza:
- A (H1N1): a California/7/2009 like virus
- A (H3N2): a Switzerland/9715293/2013 like virus
- B/Phuket/3072/2013 like virus
At this time there is a delay on the delivery of the flu vaccination, but it is anticipated that our 2015 vaccination programs should commence in April 2015.
WHY SHOULD WE IMPLEMENT A FLU VACCINATION PROGRAM?
It is a well researched topic that studies show that 10-20% of your staff will catch influenza each year, resulting in 3-4 lost working days, on average. This can be a considerable cost to your business:
- Absenteeism, replacement and overtime costs
- Interruption of service and, or product delivery
- Lost or reduced sales and productivity
Studies have shown that workplaces that implement a flu vaccination program decrease the amount of sick leave taken over the peak period of influenza infection by 74%.
Flu vaccinations are an essential component in the reduction of absenteeism rates during the winter. As the flu virus thrives in the typical office environment, public transport and other such enclosed, highly populated spaces, it is worthwhile vaccinating your staff to reduce absentee costs.