Flu vaccination reduces the strain on healthcare resources, the healthcare system, and greater clinical infrastructures. One of the most important flu prevention efforts is getting a yearly flu vaccine.
Flu vaccination reduces the strain on healthcare resources, the healthcare system, and greater clinical infrastructures. One of the most important flu prevention efforts is getting a yearly flu vaccine.
Fighting the flu is an essential component of supporting the overall health of communities, especially amidst the current COVID-19 outbreak, which presents unique healthcare delivery challenges. Many businesses have already identified the benefits of offering worksite flu vaccination programs.
The benefits offered
In the first place, they demonstrate the employer’s commitment to their employees’ safety, morale, employer-satisfaction, and health by shielding vulnerable workers, family members, and customers from serious health outcomes that can lead to hospitalization and possibly death. They also protect employees, their families, the business, and the public from illness, particularly during the current pandemic when the disease burden is already high.
Workplace flu vaccinations furthermore reduce overall employer and employee cost expenditures and productivity losses, which may result from missed time from work for the employee or family members to get vaccinated or seek illness-related diagnostic testing or treatment. And they provide a convenient, safe option for employees, especially those who may be hesitant to seek services within the community due to continued COVID-19 activity.
Barriers to clinical care
People may be hesitant to seek care from traditional clinical settings such as clinics and pharmacies this year due to safety concerns, particularly for routine screening and prevention services such as flu vaccination.
Employees who typically get vaccinated in worksite health clinics may be working remotely, have limited free time to stay up to date on vaccinations, or may have increased responsibilities as working parents supervising virtual school children.
Meeting the moment
Businesses need to remain adaptable by designing and implementing innovative, robust, evidence-based workplace programs to support the overall health and safety of their business, their employees, and their families. Some innovative programs offered this year include walk-up, drive-up or, satellite flu vaccine clinic; the use of incentives such as friendly competition among departments; messaging to dispel myths, impact cultural health beliefs, norms and attitudes, and identify the benefits of flu vaccination for individuals and communities. As health and safety ambassadors on the frontline, occupational and environmental health nurses (OHNs) have a longstanding history of caring for communities and promoting a safe and healthy workplace. This directly impacts the health of the employees, their families, the business, and the greater community. The expertise and leadership capabilities of the OHN enables them to design and implement comprehensive occupational and environmental health programs such as worksite flu vaccine programs, within a multidisciplinary team.
