Fighting Flu in Your Organization Protecting State Employees and Their Families

Are Flu Vaccinations Important? Influenza affects 5-20% of the population each year. Flu Shots reduce the risk of influenza by up to 90%. Flu Shots are recommended annually to provide protection. Vaccination is the single greatest way to prevent flu and its associated illnesses, hospitalizations and deaths.

Why Vaccinate in the Worksite? Persons infected with flu will shed the virus for hours prior to having symptoms. This shedding is very infectious to those around them. A flu shot not only protects the individual, but also protects family members, co- workers and other close contacts by decreasing the risk of flu transmission. Among healthy working adults, flu shots are shown to be cost effective in reducing illness.

What Can We Do? Bronze = Raise awareness about the importance of flu vaccinations, and other steps for avoiding getting and spreading flu. Silver = (bronze +) Provide resources about where flu shots are available locally, and make sure employees can take time to get them Gold = (silver+ bronze+) Offer onsite flu vaccine clinics

What Has Been Done? Based on a survey of wellness coordinators last year (41 responded): Slightly less than half held onsite employee flu clinics Slightly more than half referred employees to vaccination locations in the community 88 percent said they are planning a flu vaccination campaign this year

Flu Resources Workplace Influenza Toolkit from the Immunization Action Coalition of Washington CDC’s Flu Web Site: Washington Wellness Resource – Initiatives