Work Place Flu Clinic Program

Did you know? According to Health Canada, 10 to 25% of Canadians may get the flu each year. Although most of these people recover completely, an estimated 4,000 to 8,000 Canadians, mostly seniors, die every year from pneumonia related to flu and many others may die from other serious complications of flu.

Influenza is a common respiratory illness affecting millions of Canadians each year and many employers recognize that this is a significant cause of lost work time. Influenza has a propensity to spread rapidly in closed working environments, leaving several employees off sick at the same time and the remainder struggling to cope with the increased workload. The best way to prevent influenza and limit its spread within the workplace is to offer the opportunity for employees to get a flu shot. The most convenient and cost-effective place to immunize employees is at the worksite.

Workplace Flu Shot Clinics Benefits to Organization

• Decrease the spread of influenza to co-workers

• Decrease employee absenteeism by reducing time lost from work

• Decrease short-term disability claims

• Reduce cost of replacement personnel

• Increase productivity
  
• Minimize disruption of routine activities and programs

Workplace Flu Shot Clinics Benefits to Employees

• Provide an opportunity to receive the flu vaccine in a convenient location

• Decrease the risk of catching the virus by approximately 75%

• Decrease the spread of flu to family members

• Increase the chances of having a "flu-free" Christmas and winter vacation

Flu Clinic Questions

How do I organize my company’s flu clinic?

It’s virtually one stop shopping…call our flu team and we’ll begin the arrangements. 1-866-512-5629 or OnSiteFluShots

What information will you need from my company?

We will ask for:
Your preferred clinic dates
The total number of employees in your company
The number of employees that will be receiving the flu shot

Why do you need to know the number of total employees?

We use a simple guide to help you approximate the attendance of your clinic. On average 25% of your employees will want the flu shot.

How many employees can be immunized in an hour?

10-12 participants an hour. Safety is paramount; this gives the nurse ample time to meet with your employee to review and discuss the consent form, answer any questions and give the flu shot.

What may our company do to help create a successful flu shot clinic?

Give your employees plenty of notice for the upcoming clinic:

Posters: Post throughout your facility with clinic information (date, time, location). Download our Flu Tool Kit to obtain your poster
Email Alerts: Use emails alerts to announce and remind employees of upcoming flu shot clinic.
Appointment Booking Sheet: Have your employees choose their appointment times on a booking sheet. Download our Flu Tool Kit for an appointment booking sheet

When may I book my flu clinic?

You can reserve your spot and pre-book your flu clinic now. Call 1-866-512-5629 or email us at OnSiteFluShots@paramed.com. Flu clinics are delivered between mid-October and December depending on the availability of the publicly funded vaccine.

How much does an onsite flu clinic cost?

The cost varies depending on the number of employees you wish to vaccinate and where the clinic is being held. Flu clinics are reasonably priced as the cost of the vaccine is publicly funded. For more info on cost, please contact ParaMed at 1-866-512-5629 or email OnSiteFluShots@paramed.com

What happens if I need to cancel or re-schedule my flu shot clinic?

ParaMed requires a minimum of 48 hours notice to cancel or re-schedule a flu clinic.

Workplace Flu Shots Clinics

Influenza is a contagious respiratory disease that spreads easily in workplaces. The best protection against it is immunization (flu shot). Workplaces can help employees and their families by organizing workplace influenza immunization clinics this fall. It's easier than you might think and it's cost effective¹. Research conducted by Buffet Taylor² showed workplace immunization programs as providing employers with a return on investment of over $60 for each worker vaccinated.

Know the facts about influenza and its impact on your employee's health. Get informed by visiting credible websites such as:

• www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/im/vpd-mev/influenza-eng.php
• www.influenza.cpha.ca

Source:  Workplace Clinics

National Immunization Awareness Week 2011

National Immunization Awareness Week 2011 / Semaine nationale de promotion de la vaccination 2011

Immunization is successful and effective

Immunization is one of the most successful and effective health interventions. Immunization has reduced morbidity and mortality across the world in a safe and cost-effective manner. It is an important investment for all countries. From infants to senior citizens, immunization prevents debilitating illness, disability and death from vaccine-preventable diseases. Moreover, the benefits of immunization are increasingly being extended to adolescents and adults, providing protection against life-threatening diseases such as influenza, meningitis, and cancers that occur in adulthood.

Related links

http://www.who.int/immunization/newsroom/events/immunization_week_2011/en/index.html

http://www.who.int/immunization/en/index.html

http://www.ammi.ca/pdf/news_April25_11b.pdf

Click on the link and check out this information from The Public Health Agency of Canada
http://www.fightflu.ca/howdoyoufightflu-eng.html

Seasonal Influenza is a serious infection How can you tell the difference between flu (influenza) and the common cold?

http://www.msss.gouv.qc.ca/sujets/prob_sante/influenza/index.php?influenza_cest_quoi_en#symptoms

Alberta’s Seasonal Influenza Immunization Programs for 2011

In February 2011, ParaMed was part of a group of 55 participants who met with Alberta Health Services to discuss Alberta’s Seasonal Influenza Immunization Programs for 2011 and beyond.

“How can we best deliver a quality seasonal influenza immunization program in Alberta in 2011-2012 and beyond to reach the largest number of Albertans?”

The key messages to come from this group of diverse participants were:

• Challenges – decreased demand, vaccine and disease myths, lack of public interest and lack of collaboration amongst all stakeholders involved in flu program
  
  
• Opportunity – Immunization is the most cost effective health intervention of the 21^st century, we need to work together to improve access and increase immunization rates
  
  
• How to do this – communication plan to increase knowledge, roles and responsibilities, expectations and guiding principals
  
  
• How to do this – collaborative partnerships between Alberta Health Services, Alberta Health and Wellness, community service providers, pharmacists, physicians, colleges, hospitals and Health Canada.
  
• How to do this – target specific populations with appropriate messages, through existing and new media
  
  
• How to do this- enhance the program, sustainability, use data and technology solutions, training , process mapping, alternative distribution models and quality and standards.
  
  
• The Payoff – healthier population, quality, cost effective program, increased access, increased immunization  rates, stronger partnerships