Programs | Flu & Pneumonia

Health-related adult immunization programs^1-2

Employee programs refer to activities that include active employee involvement, such as classes, seminars or competitions. Employee programs are frequently provided on-site at the workplace.

Employee health surveys in the workplace provide assessment and implementation opportunities

• Information from employee health surveys can be used not only in obtaining baseline group data on employee immunization levels but also to educate individual employees to their needs for follow up for specific health concerns

Multicomponent interventions that include education are effective in improving immunization rates

• The Task Force on Community Preventive Services recommends multicomponent interventions that include combinations of: 
  • Vaccine education through mailings, newspaper, media, and other sources
  • Provider and client reminders for recommended vaccines
  • Education of vaccine providers along with clinical components such as expanded hours or access
  • Reduced out-of-pocket costs for clients
• Multicomponent interventions that include education increase community awareness of the availability, usefulness, and relevance of vaccination services, as well as providing the information necessary to use these services

Education can emphasize the importance of vaccines, especially flu vaccines, in maintaining worker productivity

• Studies have shown that healthy working adults who received an influenza vaccine (in a year when the vaccine was well matched to circulating influenza viruses) experienced significantly fewer days of influenza-like illness, made fewer doctor visits for such illnesses, and took fewer days off from work than did workers who were not vaccinated
• To reduce rates of seasonal influenza among employees, The National Business Group on Health  [PDF – 161KB] recommends that employers:
  • Encourage employees to get vaccinated
  • Consider offering onsite flu vaccination clinics
  • Encourage employees to practice good hygiene by posting handwashing signs in rest rooms and providing hand sanitation stations
  • Encourage sick employees to stay home