National Influenza Vaccination Week is here.
If you’re looking for ways to promote this week that’s focused on the importance of the flu shot, we’re here to help. The week-long observance is December 5-9. It’s recommended anyone six months and older get a flu shot to prevent catching it this year. Most insurances cover the vaccine, too.
Flu activity has skyrocketed this season. Last week alone, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported over 19,000 patients were admitted to the hospital due to influenza.
Experts agree a flu shot is a way to keep the flu away.
Below we share nine easy ways to promote and encourage a flu shot this week.
Raise Awareness at Work About the Flu Shot With These Ideas
Given the high seasonal activity for flu this year, it’s important for your employees to seriously consider a flu shot. So far this season, there have been a minimum of 8.7 million illnesses, 78,000 hospitalizations, and 4,500 flu deaths.
There’s no time like now — the height of flu season — to encourage your team to get their flu shot. Here’s how:
1. Encourage Vaccination in Any Way Possible
Even if you plan to host an on-site flu vaccine clinic, some employees may not be comfortable with that. Offer them the information and resources you have and let them make their decision. Be sure to encourage vaccinations by any means possible.
Here are a few ways to do it:
- Offer resources to take home - Sometimes employees need a little time to research health recommendations. Send them home with flu shot information they can share with their families, too.
- Share the local flu vaccine finder - Help employees locate their nearest vaccination site to get their shots. Many pharmacies and grocery store pharmacies have shot sites. They can also search here.
- Offer flexibility - If workers do decide to get a shot, allow them the time to do so. Work with your human resources team to ensure workers have a few hours to take care of their flu shot out in the community if that’s what they want to do.
Lead by example. If you plan to host a work flu shot clinic, leaders and managers should consider going first. It shows leadership also cares about their health and believes in flu shot promotion.
2. Take Advantage of Your Newsletter
If you haven’t sent your monthly email newsletter, be sure to add a blurb about flu vaccines, flu prevention, and more. It’s a perfect time to mention it’s vaccination week, too. If you’re hosting an on-site flu shot clinic, let folks know the details.
3. Host a Flu Clinic
Perhaps this is the most obvious way to promote National Influenza Vaccination Week, but it’s too great of an opportunity to miss! Schedule an on-site flu shot clinic to make it easier for everyone in the workplace.
Vaccinated employees have:
- Up to 44% fewer doc visits
- Up to 28% fewer unproductive workdays
- Up to 45% fewer sick days away from work
Even for those who aren’t quite ready for a flu shot, be sure to have informational brochures for them to check out. Remote employees can also receive vouchers to get a flu shot in their area. Want to know more? Request flu shot clinic information here.
4. Print Flyers
There are so many valuable and informative flu flyers available for workplaces. Find your favorites and print them to hang around the office. These are useful for viewing even past National Influenza Vaccination Week, as the flu season runs as late as April.
5. Host a Flu Trivia Game
Split your employees up into teams for a quick game of trivia. You can use the most recent facts and stats from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as the basis for your trivia questions.
Here are a few questions to get started:
- True or false: An annual flu vaccine is the best way to prevent the flu. (Answer: True)
- Who is most likely to get sick with the flu: Kids or those 65 and older? (Answer: Kids)
- True or false: Everyone who gets the flu also gets a fever. (Answer: False)
- When is the person infected with the flu most contagious? Before symptoms show or three to four days into the illness? (Answer: 3-4 days after their illness begins.)
Award prizes to the winning team members or bring in a catered healthy lunch!
6. Share Flu Memes
Humor is one way to get the message across during National Influenza Vaccination Week. If you feel like your messaging of flu shots is falling on deaf ears, try a little humor. Laughing and a sense of humor can strengthen the immune system, research shows. Check out and share this post of 19 Flu Memes Sure to Resonate With Your Employees This Flu Season.
7. Email Valuable Resources
Short on time and planning? No worries. There are a ton of excellent resources surrounding flu shots out there. Just be sure to use reliable sources.
Some resources to email your team:
- What You Can Expect for the 2022-23 Upcoming Flu Season
- Flu Treatment Options to Try The Minute You Feel Sick
- How Long Does the Flu Last? Here are the Stages of the Flu
The more information they have about the flu and its repercussions, the more likely they may opt for their flu shot. It’s never too late for a flu shot, especially with this season’s activity!
8. Have a Flu Song Contest
One way to make your National Influenza Vaccination Week memorable is to host a create-a-flu–shot-song content. Allow individuals or teams to come up with a song (set aside 15 minutes or so for brainstorming and creation) and then have each team perform for the group. Humor is remembered better than anything else, so the message will reach your team members better.
9. Make It Fun
Last but not least, make National Influenza Vaccination Week an exciting topic to talk about. While some may not see shots as “fun,” your workplace wellness champions can still excite your team.
Here are a few ways to do it:
- Offer goodie bags. Put some goodies like energy gum, coupons for healthy restaurants, and other items inside a bag to pass out to workers.
- Provide food. No one will turn down free food. If you’re hosting a shot clinic, offer some refreshments post-jab. Fruit and veggie trays are perfect.
- Give away prizes. This promotional time is also a great time to have prizes. Have participants put their name in a drawing for a gift card to a local restaurant.
- Host a stocking drawing. Fill a stocking with goodies like gift cards, candies, locally roasted coffee, and more. Then, draw participants' names to win a stocking.
Employees will be more likely to participate if there’s some excitement to be had!
Now is the Time for a Flu Shot
Flu season is just beginning to peak and then declines in February. If your team hasn’t gotten their shots yet, there is still time. The above ideas are just a few ways to inspire them to consider the shot.
Even if they don’t like needles, they can get a vaccine. There are pharmacies that offer a nasal spray flu vaccine for those ages two through 49.
With the increased flu activity, there’s no better time to encourage friends, loved ones, and employees to get their annual flu shot. Take the time to get the word out in the workplace any way you can whether it’s via email, social media, meetings, flyers, or hosting an actual flu shot clinic.
Check out our flu shot clinic resources to learn more.
