Employee influenza infection statistics and the recent CDC report of high antiviral drug resistance rates among common strains of flu clearly demonstrate the potential negative effect flu can have on workforce productivity and company performance. Implementing a timely, efficient and high impact organization-wide flu vaccination program is clearly the most effective way to avoid the potential losses due to the spread of flu among your workforce.

Flu Prevention Partners is a full service flu vaccination provider with experience in designing and implementing large organizational and cost effective flu vaccination programs. We invite you to contact us to find out what we can do you for you and to get started on planning your company's 2011 - 2012 employee flu vaccination program. We would be honored to be your flu vaccination program partner.

Important insurance news
Most major insurance plans already cover the flu vaccine, however effective September 23, 2010, upon insurance renewal, flu vaccinations will be covered 100%, with no co-pay or out of pocket expense for the insured employee regardless of health plan coverage.

According to the US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Harvard Business Review:

• Flu accounts for millions of lost work days each year
• For every $1 spent by employers on vaccinations, medical costs decreased by $3.27 and absenteeism costs fell by $2.75
• Data shows flu vaccine is an effective way to minimize company losses
• Flu vaccination compliance and engagement rates are highest when vaccinations are conveniently offered in the workplace
• A clinical study reports the following benefits when vaccinating a healthy workforce (age 18-64) : 25% decrease in upper respiratory infections, 43% decrease in absenteeism related to flu, and 44% decrease in doctors visit. With a direct cost savings (both absenteeism and medical costs ) associated with the flu vaccine to be $46.50 per each vaccinated employee

"Workers... who received influenza vaccine lost substantially fewer days of work and worked fewer days while ill, according to a new study in the Feb. 1 issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases, now available online.

The new study included 497 people, 404 of whom received an influenza vaccination. An influenza-like illness was reported by 17.1 percent of the study participants and was responsible for 39 percent of all work days lost. On average, the individuals were sick for eight days, missed one and a half days of work, and worked for four days while still symptomatic. Additionally, 30 percent visited a healthcare provider. The symptoms of illness appeared more severe in unvaccinated individuals, although the differences were not statistically significant.

According to study author Kristin Nichol, M.D., of the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center, "The implications are that the prevention of influenza-like illnesses can have a huge impact on the health and work productivity of adults ... , and we should do more to make sure that this high priority group is vaccinated. It is a win-win for the worker with fewer illnesses, days of illnesses, days in bed, etc. and for the employer with improved worker productivity."
Source: Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA)