Sample Communication Materials:
469-241-1954
Your Company
FLU CLINIC
Date-October , 2008
12:30-? pm
/ The shots will be administered by Passport Health, a national licensed immunization provider. Do not take a shot if you are allergic to eggs or egg products.
/ Date
Time
/ Will the FLU SHOT make me SICK?
No!! The flu shot can not give you the flu. Many adults received flu shots years ago and became sick. Things have changed; soreness at the injection site is the most common side effect.
DOES the flu shot really WORK?
Yes!! The flu shot DOES work. Even if you get the flu after getting a shot, the symptoms and the duration will be less devastating.
Do I need a SHOT every YEAR?
Yes! Although only a few different influenza viruses circulate at any given time, people can become ill with the flu many times in their lives. Each year the vaccine is updated to include the most current influenza virus strains.
Source: American Lung Association of Oklahoma
WHAT ELSE DO WE HAVE?
PNEUMONIA $45/shot
TETANUS $40/shot
Flu causes 38 million lost school days each year
Increase student performance by maintaining a healthy environment in your school. School-aged children are the age group most likely to contract and spread influenza. Most years, during the flu season in the United States, influenza is the leading cause of vaccine-preventable death in children and continues to place a significant burden on society every year.
Are you protected? GET PROTECTED.
ON-SITE FLU CLINIC
Date: ______Time: ______
Contact/Location: ______
Articles for Your Employee Communications
The 3 articles included here on seasonal influenza and the potential benefits and risks of getting vaccinated against influenza are designed to help you educate your employees and build awareness for your influenza vaccination event.
In the weeks leading up to your event, you can place the articles in your company newsletter, employee flyers, corporate intranet, or other business communications. The articles must be published as written, and can be customized with your company logo.
For maximum impact, use a different article each week to continue reminding your employees about the importance of helping to protect themselves and others against the risks of infection from the influenza virus.
Article #1
(Headline)
3 Reasons Why You Should Get Vaccinated Against Influenza
Each year, we all hear people say, “I don’t need to get a flu shot. I never get sick.” But the facts say something different.
Following are 3 reasons why all of us here at work—including those who don’t think they need it—should be vaccinated:
1.Influenza is a serious viral disease that can lead to complications
such as pneumonia and the worsening of chronic conditions such as
congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes.1 In fact, each year in the
United States, influenza and its complications affect up to 20% of the
population and result in an average of1:
• more than 200,000 hospitalizations
• 36,000 deaths
2. Getting vaccinated not only helps protect you, it also helps
protect those around you. The Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) recommend annual influenza vaccination for
anyone at risk for complications—for example, all children 6–59
months of age* and adults aged 50 and older—and for anyone
who can transmit influenza to them, such as close contacts.2
3. Getting vaccinated is the single best way to help prevent
influenza.1 When there’s a close match between the virus strains
in the vaccine and those in circulation, influenza vaccination can
prevent infection in about 70% to 90% of healthy persons younger
than 65 years.3
*Influenza vaccines are not currently approved for children under 6 months of age.
Many people mistakenly think that they’re immune to influenza—either because they’ve never gotten it before or because they had it last year and believe they can’t get it again. But it’s important to realize that influenza viruses change from year to year.
Even if you were immune to influenza strains circulating in the past, you may not be protected from the new strains that could emerge this season.4 And, of course, you can become infected with influenza more than once; the immunity you build up after having a case of influenza caused by one virus may not protect you from the new strains that might circulate this year.4
The bottom line is that getting vaccinated each influenza season is the single best way to help protect yourself against new influenza strains.1
Here’s your opportunity to help protect yourself, as well as the many lives you touch. An influenza vaccination event is scheduled here at [insert company name]:
Date:______
Time:______
Location:______
Be sure to contact [name] at [extension] to schedule your influenza vaccination today!
Note: Influenza vaccination may not prevent the disease in 100% of individuals. Persons should consult their healthcare provider to determine if they have a condition that precludes them from receiving the vaccine.All vaccines have side effects.The most common side effects of influenza vaccines include local reactions and mild general symptoms.
References:
1. Key Facts about Influenza and the Influenza Vaccine. Available at:
Accessed May 2007.
2. Prevention and Control of Influenza. Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on
Immunization Practices. Available at:
Accessed May 2007.
3. Questions & Answers: Flu Shot. Available at: Accessed
May 2007.
4. Questions & Answers: Flu Vaccine. Available at:
Accessed May 2007.
Article #2
(Headline)
The High Cost of Feeling Miserable
It’s that time of year again, when influenza season hits and millions feel miserable. But influenza is more than just a nuisance. It’s actually a serious disease that can have a negative impact on your job, finances, family, and friends.
Getting influenza could cause you to not feel well for up to 2 weeks1 and could cost you:
lost time from work and other critical assignments
lost wages
lost vacation or personal time
extra medical expenses
Professionals have taken a look at what can happen in the workplace when influenza strikes, and they’ve found that the losses can add up to significant costs. On average, there is an estimated 2 to 3.5 days lost from work per illness from influenza2,3―not to mention the compromised productivity when your sick co-workers come to work instead of staying home.4
These losses can also extend beyond the workplace and affect your friends and family at home. Without a vaccination, you risk becoming infected with the influenza virus and passing it along to the many lives you touch.
The good news is that most people can potentially benefit from influenza vaccination. This includes healthy household contacts―including children―and caregivers of people with medical conditions that put them at higher risk for severe complications from influenza.5 This high-risk group includes all children 6–59 months of age,* adults aged 50 and older, women who may be pregnant during influenza season, and people who require regular care for certain medical conditions.5
*Influenza vaccines are not currently approved for children under 6 months of age.
So this influenza season, do your part to help protect the people you love, while keeping yourself healthy and on the job. Schedule your influenza vaccination here at [insert company name]:
Date:______
Time:______
Location:______
Contact [name] at [extension] to make your appointment today!
Note: Influenza vaccination may not prevent the disease in 100% of individuals. Persons should consult their healthcare provider to determine if they have a condition that precludes them from receiving the vaccine.All vaccines have side effects.The most common side effects of influenza vaccines include local reactions and mild general symptoms.
References:
1. Influenza: The Disease. Available at: Accessed May 2007.
2. Kavet J. A perspective on the significance of pandemic influenza. Am J Public Health.
1977;67:1063-1070.
3. Meltzer MI, Cox J, Fukuda K. The economic impact of pandemic influenza in the United States:
priorities for intervention. Emerg Infect Dis. 1999;5:659-671.
4. Keech M, Scott AJ, Ryan PJ. The impact of influenza and influenza-like illness on productivity
and healthcare resource utilization in a working population. Occup Med. 1998;48:85-90.
5. Prevention and Control of Influenza. Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on
Immunization Practices. Available at:
Accessed May 2007.
Article #3
(Headline)
You Might Be Passing It Along Without Even Knowing…
With the holiday season soon approaching, it’s important to keep in mind that there’s one thing nobody wants to give or receive: influenza.
Unfortunately, anyone can become infected with influenza, and anyone can pass it along. In fact, the main way influenza viruses are spread is from person to person when people cough or sneeze. Did you know that infectious respiratory droplets from a cough or sneeze can be propelled up to 3 feet?1
And that’s just one way to spread the influenza virus. Another― although less likely way―is to touch your own mouth or nose when you are infected and then touch someone else before washing your hands.1
Now, imagine how all this can potentially affect you and your co-workers. You can2:
Spread the influenza virus to each other, as well as to your friends and family, beginning 1 day before you feel sick
Continue to be contagious for 5 days after your symptoms start
Often it’s difficult to even know if you have influenza. However, unlike other respiratory infections, such as the common cold, influenza usually is severe. Symptoms can include fever, headaches, extreme tiredness, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, and muscle aches.1 The illness typically lasts for 3 to 7 days, although cough and tiredness can persist for more than 2 weeks.3
Fortunately, you can help protect yourself and the many lives you touch this influenza season. The single best way to help prevent influenza is to get vaccinated.2
Take steps to help you stay healthy and help keep those around you healthy too! Influenza vaccinations are being provided at [insert company name]:
Date:______
Time:______
Location:______
If you haven’t done so already, schedule your vaccination by contacting [name] at [extension]!
Note: Influenza vaccination may not prevent the disease in 100% of individuals. Persons should consult their healthcare provider to determine if they have a condition that precludes them from receiving the vaccine.All vaccines have side effects.The most common side effects of influenza vaccines include local reactions and mild general symptoms.
References:
1. Questions & Answers: The Disease. Available at:
Accessed May 2007.
2. Key Facts about Influenza and the Influenza Vaccine. Available at:
Accessed May 2007.
3. Prevention and Control of Influenza. Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on
Immunization Practices. Available at:
Accessed May 2007.