Making the annual flu shot easy for your employees

The flu is one of those ever-present, yet underestimated phenomena in our lives. Much like the common cold, we get it when we’re kids, when we’re adults and into our twilight years, but we often don’t think about its far-reaching effects.

However, the CDC estimates that between 2010 and 2023, the flu caused 9.3 million to 41 million illnesses, 100,000 to 710,000 hospitalizations and 4,900 to 51,000 deaths each year. One reason why the flu is so prevalent is a reluctance to get the vaccine, in part due to numerous myths.

Flu shot myths

Year over year, barriers prevent people from getting their flu vaccine, with myths, misunderstandings and miseducation serving as contributors. One of the biggest myths is that the flu shot actually gives you the flu. However, while some recipients may experience aches and pains, these are normal immune system reactions to the vaccine.

Other common myths include:

These aren’t the only myths out there, so it’s important to educate your employees with facts so they make right decisions for themselves and for others.

The importance of an annual flu shot

Getting vaccinated every year is essential for population health because it reduces the severity of flu symptoms, lowers the risk and costs of flu-related complications and helps prevent the spread of flu to others, especially those most vulnerable.

A seasonal flu shot protects against the specific influenza viruses that research suggests may be most common during the upcoming season. Offering annual flu shots keeps your employees healthy and productive, while reducing absenteeism, as it’s a reason millions of Americans miss workdays each year. 

Labcorp’s flu shot solutions

Labcorp has over 25 years of experience staffing and handling immunizations, supporting thousands of employers and millions of their employees. Our flexible flu solutions allow for a program that fits your needs and can be offered in conjunction with biometric screenings.

We follow recommendations from the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices each year, offering a vaccine for the strains determined to be the most impactful in the upcoming flu season. For 2024, Labcorp is offering the CDC-recommended trivalent vaccines, which protect against three strains of the flu: two influenza A viruses (H1N1 and H3N2) and one influenza B virus.   

Labcorp delivers several convenient ways for you and your employees to get vaccinated this year. On-site events can be held nationwide starting in September, and we can help you plan and implement a convenient voucher program that provides access to over 17,800 retail partners.

Our streamlined digital experience makes it easy for your employees: our proprietary technology manages event flow, registration and walk-ins, leading to a quick and easy flu event, with an average 1.2-minute wait time. 

Annually, we assess client satisfaction with our offerings by measuring Net Promoter Score (NPS). This score allows us to focus on and enhance customer experience. In 2023, our NPS was 56.54 (above 50 is deemed excellent), with positive participant feedback noting the smooth, convenient process and requesting the same experience for the next flu season.