According to a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control’s website article, “Seasonal Flu Information for Workplaces & Employees” (July 2008), the single best way to prevent seasonal flu is to get vaccinated. Two million workdays are lost to the virus and employers can often expect to lose affected employees for at least a week.
Most years a flu shot is up to 90 percent effective in preventing the flu in healthy adults, according to the CDC. Because the flu is contagious even in its early stages, all it takes is one affected person to pass the virus to others on the job. The more employees that get flu shots, the better the chance of maintaining a productive workplace through the flu season. Employers save an average of $60 (in today's dollar) in lost work time for every employee vaccinated, according to an article in the New England Journal of Medicine.
FluStop(SM) is a program that helps you offer flu shots to your employees at your workplace. A recent survey of FluStop participants found that being able to get a flu shot at work was the main reason most people were vaccinated.
To help spread the word to employees, we provide these promotional materials (available by clicking on the "what you'll need" link above):
Please refer to the FAQ for employers or contact your BlueLink TPA agent or account manager for assistance.
Until additional vaccine information and protocols are available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the State Health Department, H1N1 vaccinations will not be offered through the FluStop program. Watch for updates as they become available.