Stay Healthy, Get Vaccinated
October 3, 2007
Overview
With the winter months quickly approaching, it is important to remember flu prevention. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that people at high risk for complications from the flu, and those who live with or care for someone at high risk for the flu, get vaccinated yearly.1 People at high risk for complications from the flu include children ages 6 months to 5 years, pregnant women, people over the age of fifty, people with chronic medical conditions, and those living in nursing homes or long-term care facilities.1 In addition, the CDC recommends that anyone wanting to avoid the flu get vaccinated. The influenza vaccine may be administered to any person 6 months or older.1
The height of flu season typically occurs in February, but it may begin as early as October and continue into May. October and November are the best months to get vaccinated, yet it is worth getting vaccinated as long as there is a chance of getting the flu.
The flu vaccine comes in two forms: a shot and nasal-spray. The flu shot contains an inactivated virus and the nasal-spray contains a live, weakened flu virus.2 Both forms are effective. Usually people who are vaccinated develop antibodies to the viral strains of flu included in the vaccination within two weeks.2 Because influenza strains change from year to year, people must get vaccinated each year in order to be fully protected.
Seasonal Flu
The flu, a contagious respiratory illness caused by a strain of the influenza virus, causes symptoms similar to the common cold, yet more severe. Symptoms include coughing, sneezing, runny nose, fever, body aches, lethargy, and dizziness. There is also an increased risk for secondary infections and complications such as pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infection, dehydration, and worsening underlying chronic medical conditions.3
Rates of serious illness and death from the flu are greatest among the elderly (those over the age of 65), children under the age of two, and those with underlying chronic medical conditions.3
The Business Case for Vaccination
The flu affects up to twenty percent of the U.S. population every year, causing an average of 200,000 hospitalizations and 36,000 deaths per year.4 Lost earnings due to the flu amount to 16.3 billion in year 2003 dollars (unpublished CDC data).5 Employers feel the detrimental effects of the flu due to:
- 200 million days of diminished productivity. 6
- 100 million days of bed disability.6
- 75 million days of work absence.6
- Medical claims.
Vaccination greatly reduces costs associated with the flu:
- Reduces healthcare provider visits 13%-44%.1
- Reduces lost work days 18%-45%.1
- Reduces days that employees work with reduced effectiveness 18%-28%.1
- Reduces the use of flu-related antibiotic prescriptions by 25%.1
In order to avoid the costly repercussions of the flu, employers should:
- Encourage employees to get vaccinated by providing the flu vaccine onsite for employees and their families, and ensuring that health plans cover vaccination.
- Encourage employees to practice good hygiene such as proper hand washing; covering their coughs and sneezes; and avoiding touching their eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Encourage sick employees to stay home in order avoid infecting others.
For more information on influenza, refer to: Greenbaum E. Center for Prevention and Health Services. Seasonal Influenza: The Economics of Vaccination. Washington, DC: National Business Group on Health; October 2006.
1. Fiore A, Shay D, Haber P, Iskander J, Uyeki T, Mootrey G, Bresee J, Cox N. Prevention and Control of Influenza: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), 2007. MMWR. July 13 2007/ 56(RR06);1-54.
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Key Facts About Seasonal Flu Vaccine. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/keyfacts.htm. Accessed October 3, 2007.
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Key Facts About Seasonal Influenza (Flu). Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/keyfacts.htm. Accessed October 3, 2007.
4. Smith N, Bresee J, Shay D, Uyeki T, Strikas, R. Prevention and control of influenza: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MWWR. July 28 2006; 55 (RR10): 1-42.
5. Greenbaum E. Center for Prevention and Health Services. Seasonal Influenza: The Economics of Vaccination. Washington, DC: National Business Group on Health; October 2006.
6. Benson V, Marano M. Current Estimated From teh National Health Interview Survey, 1995. Vital Health and Health Statistics (National Center for Health Statistics; Hyattsville, MD). 1998(199).
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