When is the best time to get a flu shot?

From time to time I get inquiries from clients and prospective clients wondering if we can guarantee giving flu shots in September.  They are not so concerned about the right time frame to give the shots to their employees, but that they can offer the flu shots at that time.   

First, this is too early to offering flu shots medically.   I wonder if my comments even sink in.  They just want to do it.   If you are offering flu shots to your employees, the objective must be to decrease the likelihood of catching the  flu.    Yes, giving shots early is better than not getting at all.   I would however advise them that they should offer employee flu shots in closer proximity to the flu virus circulating.  In the past few years that has been well into the new year.  It takes 2 to 4 for antibodies to develop from the flu shot.  Thus the peak protection generally occurs about 1-2 months after the flu shot is administered.   So why then would you give a flu shot any time in September if they will have peak protection in October and November?  If you were going to run a marathon and have a personal best time wouldn't you try to be in peak condition in the few weeks leading up to the race rather than months earlier.  

Despite my advice, these companies shop around for a provider that will agree to administer flu shots that early.   Some providers decide that a medically appropriate recommendation falls to the wayside if the dollars are doing the talking.

Alan Kohll

Vaccination Services of America

www.vsamerica.com

Health Fairs of America (tm)

www.healthfairsamerica.com

888-434-4358 x 102

info@vsamerica.com

Do flu shots save my company money? What is the ROI?

Flu shots are the easiest way to implement an on site health service with an immediate return on investment (ROI).   

More than half of US companies host on flu shot events for their employees, yet only 25 to 30 percent of the employees participate.

How does a company generate more participation?

1. Leadership and Management participation

2. Employer 100% subsidized

3. Consistency of the program. The service must be offered annually.

4. Educating employees on the health benefits of receiving and annual flu shots and dispelling any myths.

5. Promoting flu shots spouses and dependents.

6. Improving communication by implementing online employee appointment scheduling and other complementary communication such as www.employeesignup.com.

Alan Kohll

President

Health Fairs of America

Vaccination Services of America, Inc.

888-434-4358 x 102

www.vsamerica.com

www.healthfairsamerica.com

info@vsamerica.com

Nurses are not created equal in giving flu shots

I get calls from clients and prospective clients asking for pricing on flu shots and health screenings for their employees.  I don't think I have been ever asked how good our nurses are.   Are they good at giving flu shots? I never hear that question.

The fact is that nurses are not created equal in their skill in administration of flu shots.  You would assume that giving shots is a very basic skill to a nurse.  This assumption is not a good one.  I would agree that a registered nurse should have the basic skill to give a flu shot or any shot for that matter.  The problem is that some nurses have never worked in a health care setting that either requires them to give shots or on a somewhat consistent basis.  The result is that some nurses are just not proficient in giving shots. Further, even if a nurse is good at giving shots they need to be organized to process participants.

All the above is something I try hard to relay to our clients because we want our nurses to be both proficient and efficient in giving flu shots and vaccinations to employees.    Again, not all nurses are equally good at giving flu shots.  I have some nurses who are able to do approximately 60 shots per hour and some that are just more comfortable around 35 to 40 shots an hour.  As a company, we expect our nurses to be able to administer 32 shots per hour.   

How to be successful in a corporate flu shot program

More than half of US corporations provide on site flu shots for their employees.   Most of these companies pay for the cost of the flu shots yet only about 30% participate in these voluntary flu shot programs.  Why? 

To increase participation, here are a few suggestions.

1.  Provide education on the benefits of flu shots.  Resources are available at www.vsamerica.com, www.healthfairsamerica.com and the CDC website.

2.  Implement online scheduling of appointments therefore making scheduling easy for the employees and the corporate planner for the program.  To view an appointment scheduling program specifically designed for employee flu shot and screening programs go to www.employeesignup.com.  

3.  Provide flu shots every year.

4.  Offer flu shots to spouses and dependents.

5.  Integrate the flu shot program into an overall health and wellness strategy.