Getting the flu may cost you and your company: Dr. Zain Chagla
Setting up flu shot clinics is an effective way for employers to reduce the financial impact of employees becoming sick with the flu.
Flu season is fast approaching, and as part of Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) Week, I wanted to talk about the impact of influenza in your workplace. There are a number of steps to prevent the flu, including regular hand washing, covering up your cough, and avoiding work while symptomatic. In addition, many workplaces may want to consider flu shot clinics in order to maximize the health and productivity of their employees. Some of the myths and responses are listed below:
"Getting the flu is no big deal”
Not true. While most people who get the flu will do fine, it can make people with medical issues, such as lung disease, heart disease, or cancer very sick. Also, remember even if you’re healthy, the people you work with may not be, and preventing them from getting the flu is important. In the U.S., it’s estimated that the flu costs the health system nearly $4 billion in hospitalizations, doctors’ visits, and medication.
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“I’ll just stay home from work if I get sick"
It’s important to stay home if you get the flu. However, from a company productivity standpoint, it’s much better for people to not get sick. One U.S. study suggests up to $7 billion is lost annually in sick leave and lost productivity. As well, even if you stay home at the first signs of being sick, it’s probably too late to protect your colleagues, as people are contagious prior to getting sick.
“The flu shot doesn’t work”
While it’s not a perfect vaccine, the flu shot does work. A lot of factors go into the yearly success of the flu vaccine, including how well they match with the circulating strains. In general, the vaccine prevents the flu in 60 per cent of healthy people. Even if you get the flu after getting the flu shot, some studies suggest a much milder illness. Remember, the vaccine works better in healthy people than those with compromised immune systems, so it’s even more important to get the shot to protect other people from getting the flu.
“I got the flu from the flu shot"
The vaccine doesn’t contain any live components of the virus, so you can’t get the flu from the vaccine. Some people get a sore arm and a low-grade fever, but that’s simply your body responding to the vaccine. There are dozens of other viruses that cause similar symptoms of the flu which unfortunately have no vaccine or treatment, and often can be mistaken for getting the flu after a flu shot.
Bottom line: The flu shot may protect you from getting the flu, and may help save your business money and productivity.