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Making the annual flu shot easy for your employees

23 April 2024

The flu is one of those ever-present, yet underestimated phenomena in our lives. Much like the common cold, we get it when we’re kids, when we’re adults and into our twilight years, but we often don’t think about its far-reaching effects.

However, the CDC estimates that between 2010 and 2023, the flu caused 9.3 million to 41 million illnesses, 100,000 to 710,000 hospitalizations and 4,900 to 51,000 deaths each year. One reason why the flu is so prevalent is a reluctance to get the vaccine, in part due to numerous myths.

Flu shot myths

Year over year, barriers prevent people from getting their flu vaccine, with myths, misunderstandings and miseducation serving as contributors. One of the biggest myths is that the flu shot actually gives you the flu. However, while some recipients may experience aches and pains, these are normal immune system reactions to the vaccine.

Other common myths include:

Myth: The flu is just a bad cold

Fact: Flu symptoms and common cold symptoms are similar, but the flu is more severe. Additionally, according to the CDC, the flu leads to millions of medical visits and thousands of deaths and hospitalizations

Myth: Only unhealthy people need a flu vaccine 

Fact: Flu is a contagious disease that affects the lungs and can lead to serious illness, including pneumonia. Even healthy people can get sick enough to miss work or school for a significant amount of time

Myth: Even if I get sick, I’ll recover quickly

Fact: Even if you aren’t greatly affected by the flu, others around you might not be so lucky. The elderly, young children, pregnant women, and people with medical conditions like asthma, diabetes, heart disease and lung disease are at especially higher risk from the flu

These aren’t the only myths out there, so it’s important to educate your employees with facts so they make right decisions for themselves and for others.

The importance of an annual flu shot

Getting vaccinated every year is essential for population health because it reduces the severity of flu symptoms, lowers the risk and costs of flu-related complications and helps prevent the spread of flu to others, especially those most vulnerable.

A seasonal flu shot protects against the specific influenza viruses that research suggests may be most common during the upcoming season. Offering annual flu shots keeps your employees healthy and productive, while reducing absenteeism, as it’s a reason millions of Americans miss workdays each year. 

How to make getting the vaccine easy and engage your employees

Find a partner who makes the vaccination process simple for your employees. The most successful flu shot services offer:

  • Quality staffing
  • Seasonal vaccine options
  • Superior participant experience
  • Numerous options to encourage high engagement

An easy and intuitive experience for your employees includes different avenues to get a flu shot, whether it’s at an on-site event or through a nationwide retail partner. 

Digital tools, like online scheduling in a secure, HIPAA-compliant portal makes it easy to track appointments, receive notifications and reminders, and download proof of vaccination. A digital check-in process at on-site events also expedites things for walk-ins and those with appointments alike. 

Labcorp’s flu shot solutions

Labcorp has over 25 years of experience staffing and handling immunizations, supporting thousands of employers and millions of their employees. Our flexible flu solutions allow for a program that fits your needs and can be offered in conjunction with biometric screenings.

We follow recommendations from the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices each year, offering a vaccine for the strains determined to be the most impactful in the upcoming flu season. For 2024, Labcorp is offering the CDC-recommended trivalent vaccines, which protect against three strains of the flu: two influenza A viruses (H1N1 and H3N2) and one influenza B virus.   

Labcorp delivers several convenient ways for you and your employees to get vaccinated this year. On-site events can be held nationwide starting in September, and we can help you plan and implement a convenient voucher program that provides access to over 17,800 retail partners.

No matter which option you choose, our team guides you through a seamless experience by:

  • Using our tried-and-true implementation process for program setup and event scheduling
  • Offering support to guide employees in getting vaccinated 
  • Helping end-to-end, from event ideation to reporting and billing, including claims billing

Our streamlined digital experience makes it easy for your employees: our proprietary technology manages event flow, registration and walk-ins, leading to a quick and easy flu event, with an average 1.2-minute wait time. 

Annually, we assess client satisfaction with our offerings by measuring Net Promoter Score (NPS). This score allows us to focus on and enhance customer experience. In 2023, our NPS was 56.54 (above 50 is deemed excellent), with positive participant feedback noting the smooth, convenient process and requesting the same experience for the next flu season.

Let’s get started

Contact us today so you and your employees are prepared for the 2024 flu season. We’re here to help devise and implement a program that meets the needs of your business.

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