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S P O N S O R E D
H E A LT H & S A F E T Y
fall, we brace for the impact
of seasonal influenza. It is a
serious disease that takes up to 3,500
lives annually and causes an average of
12,200 hospitalizations across Canada
each year, according to the federal
government.
While the COVID-19 pandemic has
shaken the world and all resources avail-
able are being utilized to stop its spread,
we need to remain diligent with similar
efforts to minimize the impact of influ-
enza.
Protecting employees from seasonal influenza is important. Immunization
provides essential protection and prevents the spread of the flu. It is every
employers' responsibility to facilitate access to vaccines. To this end,
employers should plan ahead to secure an on-site influenza clinic in the spring
PLAN AHEAD TO PROTECT
EMPLOYEES FROM THE FLU
EVERY
tance of Canadians getting their annual
immunization to minimize the spread
of the virus and reduce stress on the
health-care system — and this has
not changed during the COVID-19
pandemic. Employers play an important
role in protecting employees against
influenza to maintain a healthy work-
force, even if some of us continue to
work virtually.
Finding an influenza
shot takes effort
Employees who need to co-ordinate
their work and personal lives to receive
an influenza shot can spend hours
seeking a location that accommodates
their schedule, and immunizers running
out of supply can make it even more of
a challenge. This inconvenience results
in a loss of productivity for travel to and
from the appointment.
Some people even opt out of getting
an influenza shot altogether due to busy
schedules. This decreased immuniza-
tion rate significantly increases the risk
of infection and the potential spread of
influenza within the workplace.
A recent Canadian study by Seqirus
found that 73 per cent of employees
want to have influenza shots available
at their workplace, primarily because of
the convenience and time saved.
The same survey also discovered that
employers that make seasonal influenza
vaccines available in their workplace are
seen positively not only by employees
but also by customers. Employees want
their health to be valued and protected
by their employer.
Knowing your options is
essential in protecting employees
Influenza shots are available to
Canadians through public health,
When hit with influenza, we know it
as days' worth of fever, fatigue, chills
and muscle pain — but its impacts go
beyond the person infected. Influenza
also affects the business landscape
because research shows that, with every
influenza case, 14 to 16 working hours
are lost. Furthermore, employees find
that their work performance is impaired
for days after returning to work.
i,ii
Preventing influenza is a challenge
every year as strains of the virus contin-
ually change, heightening the impor-
