If you’re considering implementing a program in your company to inoculate employees against influenza then it’s important to know when the best time is to run the program and how long employees can expect to be protected against illness.
If you’re unsure exactly when influenza season starts and how long shots can protect your staff then read on below to find out more about the best time to introduce corporate flu vaccinations into your workplace.
When does influenza season start in Australia?
Influenza season typically begins in the winter months in Australia, starting in June and usually peaking around July through August and September.
The severity of the season varies from year to year and can be affected by factors such as immunization levels for that year.
When considering corporate flu vaccinations, generally it is best that companies implement a program around May to allow a few weeks for the shot to take effect, as it takes about 2 weeks before the shot is effective against illness.
In some places in Australia, such as the Northern Territory, there is a pattern of seasonal illness beginning earlier, usually about a month before, so shots should be given in April instead for best protection.
How long does the influenza shot last?
Evidence suggests that the effects of the influenza shot start to wane after about three to four months, so a new shot is required each year and booster shots may be required for particularly long seasons of illness.
The length of efficacy for the shot means that corporate flu vaccination programs work most effectively when administered in April or May.
What effect does influenza have in Australia?
Influenza is a highly contagious illness that affects thousands of Australians every year, resulting in hundreds of deaths and hospitalizations.
2017 was a particularly severe year that saw the highest number of deaths since the pandemic year 2009. The illness is a virus, easily spread through methods like coughing and causes symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, vomiting, body aches, fever, sore throats, fatigue, headache and runny nose.
The illness is responsible every year for the loss of billions of dollars of revenue and thousands of hours of lost productivity time. The impact on the Australian workforce is huge and puts a considerable burden on companies whom see a dramatic rise in absenteeism and a slow down in productivity during influenza season.
Why you should consider corporate flu vaccinations?
Corporate flu vaccination programs are an excellent way for companies to protect their employees and reduce the impact of seasonal illness on the workplace.
Employees spend a large proportion of their day in the workplace, the best way to ensure that the largest number of people are captured and inoculated is through corporate flu vaccination programs.
These programs are quick and easy and require very little time on the part of companies and their employees – up to 10 employees can get their shots within 3 minutes!
Corporate flu vaccinations can help to prevent employees falling ill with the flu and reduce absenteeism by more the half over the course of the year.
For very little investment, companies can dramatically increase their productivity and reduce the number of employees falling sick each year. Not only does this make sense from a cost perspective for the company, but it can also help to garner employee goodwill.
Having a program in place to protect the health of employees is an important step in showing your employees that you care about their wellbeing and is an essential part of corporate responsibility.