It’s that magical time of year again. Holiday cheer fills the air as you celebrate special moments with friends and loved ones. And while you can’t get enough of the cozy time indoors admiring the changing of the seasons, the shift in weather also brings a not-so-friendly phenomenon… Flu Season.
With the extra time spent inside, it’s easier for your body to catch nasty bugs that can quickly turn your holiday fun into a holiday run to the drugstore. Thankfully, the flu vaccine is readily available and the best way to help protect you and your family. And there’s no better time to get vaccinated than National Influenza Vaccine Week, which takes place December 5-9, 2022.
To prepare for this national celebration, we’re sharing some facts about flu vaccines and the importance of encouraging employees to get vaccinated. Take a look at some of the flu shot benefits!
What are the Experts Saying about this Flu Season?
The flu affects millions of people every year and can sadly affect some people in a variety of life-threatening ways. Depending on a person’s current physical health, a flu infection can range from mild symptoms like coughing, stuffy or runny nose and body aches to more severe symptoms that can lead to hospitalization and even death.
Health experts are saying this could be the year to see a “twindemic” with the likelihood of an earlier and more severe flu season than in past years coupled with the continued threat of COVID-19.
Thankfully, the flu vaccine is available to help protect you and your employees from suffering more severe symptoms of the flu. In fact, according to the CDC, “flu vaccination reduces the risk of flu illness by between 40% and 60% among the overall population.” Keep Reading for more benefits of flu vaccination in the workplace.
Benefits of the Flu Vaccine for Adults
Aside from the direct benefits of protecting yourself and those around you from getting the flu, according to the Association of Immunization Managers, the flu vaccine has been shown to:
- Reduce Hospitalization and Death
- Reduce Severity of Illness in Hospitalized Individuals
- Reduce Risks for Major Cardiac Events
- Protect Pregnant Women and Their Babies
How to Increase Flu Vaccine Rates in your Organization
Want to increase flu vaccination rates among your employees? A great way to encourage them is to offer a few days of free on-site vaccines! You can often partner with local pharmacies or physicians’ offices to set up a mini-clinic right in your office.
That way, instead of having to schedule an appointment during or outside of work, all your employees have to commit to is a simple walk down the hall! This immediately helps eliminate barriers many employees may face when it comes to getting the vaccine.
In addition to the convenience of an on-site clinic, you could also encourage vaccination by offering incentives like:
- Gift cards
- Free PTO days
- Catered lunch for staff
- Casual dress days
How can Clarity Help?
In the event that you or your employees do get sick this flu season, it’s important to know exactly what benefits packages are available to help. For example, Clarity Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) can both be used to pay for flu must-haves like over-the-counter medicines, cold and flu treatments and doctor visits.
Not to mention, the HSA Store and FSA Store offer easy ways for your employees to know exactly what’s covered on their plans with the added convenience of ordering right from the website.
Additionally, it’s always best to encourage employees to stay home if they are sick to get the rest they need to properly recover.
Simply Smarter. Simply Healthy.
This flu season, it’s so important to encourage your employees to vaccinate early to help protect themselves, their coworkers, their families and the individuals they serve on a day-to-basis.
Contact Clarity to learn more about how HSAs and FSAs can add simplicity to your employees’ lives and help your organization promote a healthy environment during flu season and beyond!
