Why 2020 May Be the Most Important Year for an Employer Flu Shot Campaign

Influenza has been an annual issue that people and businesses have had to cope with for years. While many people annually receive the vaccine, a large percentage of the population do not for a variety of reasons. The flu can be costly to employers, as it can erode worker availability and productivity, and add additional costs to their medical plans by increasing the risk of contracting other infections. With COVID-19 continuing to wreak havoc, this year may be the most critical for employers to create ways to get their staff the necessary immunizations.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Influenza (Flu) and COVID-19 are both contagious respiratory illnesses, but they are caused by different viruses. COVID-19 is caused by infection with a new coronavirus (called SARS-CoV-2) and flu is caused by infection from influenza viruses. Because some of the symptoms of flu and COVID-19 are similar, it may be hard to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone, and testing may be needed to help confirm a diagnosis.

While some employers provide flu shots in the office, others encourage their employees to receive their shots at the doctor’s office, pharmacy, grocery store or other community option through various education and communication campaigns. For many industries, their workforce continues to operate in a remote environment. In these situations, a coordinated employer campaign may be more critical, as remote workers may not be as comfortable receiving the vaccine in the other traditional venues.

Regardless of whether your physical offices are open or not, here are some considerations for employers:

• Start preparing now. It will be even more important to get a plan in place early as vendors may be overwhelmed with requests.
• Establish a drive-thru flu shot clinic in the office parking lot. If this is not feasible, consider setting up space outdoors to conduct the clinic.
• Encourage not only employees but all family members to get a vaccine. If possible, consider offering incentives to drive participation.
• Have employees complete any necessary forms ahead of time, to eliminate any congestion during the actual program.
• If you have a volume of employees in a given area not near the office, establish a flu shot clinic in a location in that area to allow those workers to access easily.
• If you use an advocacy service or engagement vendor, ask that partner to also inquire about whether the individual has received or scheduled their flu shot.
• Provide multiple dates for the clinic, regardless of setting, to provide options to your staff.

The upcoming fall and winter seasons may be the most challenging for employee health that we’ve seen in some time. Further complicating matters is that many symptoms are the same for influenza and COVID-19. Employers that can provide simple, easy access to flu shots and drive participation, will not only eliminate speculation and continue to foster a culture of health, but they’ll be better equipped to keep their business running efficiently and their clients satisfied.

Dan Gowen
SVP, Employee Benefit Practice Leader
Assurex Global