Flu Cost U.S. Businesses up to $10 Billion Annually; Companies Look for Ways to Fight Back

Keene, NH (August, 2011)— According to the Immunization Action Coalition, influenza is the most frequent cause of death in the United States from a vaccine-preventable illness. Each year, between 15 and 60 million Americans get the flu, missing up to 70 million workdays and, according to a 2006 CNN Money article, costing US employers up to $10 billion. It is no wonder then, that as the country recognizes National Immunization Month, many companies are looking at on-site flu vaccinations to combat the growing costs of influenza illnesses.

Many sources list influenza as one of the leading single causes of employee absences. In an article by the Tallahassee Democrat, Roslyn Stone of Corporate Wellness Inc. estimated that 10-12 percent of all employee absences are due to employees contracting the virus. In addition, the Disability Management Employer Coalition estimates that employees who come to work with the flu increase overall lost workdays by 10 to 30 percent.

Challenger, Gray & Christmas, an outplacement company with offices in Boston, MA, estimated that with median weekly earnings of $675 for all wage and salary works, paid sick leave costs employers an average of $135 per day. This doesn’t even begin to account for costs related to lowered productivity when ill employees are at work, slowed projects, or wages and training for temporary workers. It also fails to account for employees who miss work to care for ill family members.

Contrary to many misconceptions, influenza (commonly called ‘the flu’) is not just a brief ‘stomach bug,’ and there is no such thing as the ‘24-hour flu.’ The flu is a specific strain of potentially serious viruses with symptoms including headache, muscle aches, chills, extreme tiredness, cough, and fever over 100 degrees. As Occupational Health and Wellness Management Medical Director Anton Schoolwerth, MD, explained, the potential for influenza to cause secondary infections and severe conditions is great.

“Flu complications can include bacterial pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infections and worsening of chronic medical conditions like asthma, heart disease, and diabetes,” said Schoolwerth.

Nurse Manager Diane Bogdan, R.N. went on to say “I’ve seen it [the flu] develop into bronchitis or pneumonia which leads to weeks away from work or workers coming to work when they’re really not feeling well enough to do their job.”

Once the flu begins sweeping through a workplace, options become more limited. Most resources recommend that people stay at home when they have a fever as this is when they are most contagious. She pointed out that although many workplaces balk at that, “it doesn’t make sense to expose an entire workplace to germs” and “when someone is not feeling well, they truly are not working at their optimum level.”

The best way to avoid this scenario? Follow the CDC’s recent (2010) recommendation that everyone 6 months and older, with no prohibitive allergies, receive the “universal” influenza vaccine.

In fact, one study of 849 workers from 18-64, conducted by the Veterans Affairs Center of Minneapolis, found that immunizing against the flu reduced the number of respiratory illnesses, days lost from work, and visits to a doctor for an estimated net savings of $47.00 per person—almost twice what the average workplace vaccination costs. These savings, and a better understanding of the flu and flu vaccinations, are leading an increasing number of employers to offer free or low-cost flu shots for their workers.

With such an obvious return on investment, it’s easy to wonder why more people aren’t rushing to the nearest nurse.

Part of the problem, Schoolwerth explained, are persistent misconceptions still surrounding the flu vaccine. Despite many anecdotal claims of friends and family who believe they contracted the illness from the vaccine, this is not possible. “The flu shot,” he said, “is made from inactivated/killed virus.” Some confusion may arise from the fact that many people assume any wintertime illness with fever and cold symptoms is the flu when in fact, the flu is a specific strain of viruses. In addition, the vaccine takes up to two weeks to reach full strength and some may contract the illness in that time.

This lag time is why it’s so important to begin vaccinating in the fall—prime vaccination time is September and October. This allows for plenty of time for the vaccine to reach full effectiveness before flu season peaks, usually in February.

More information about worksite vaccination programs is available by contacting Occupational Health and Wellness Management at 603-352-5595 or by email at cricard@occupationalhealthwellness.com