Don't Wait to Vaccinate

Staying up-to-date on vaccines is one of the safest ways to protect your health and the health of people around you. The flu can be serious — even for people who are normally healthy.

What you need to know

Flu germs can spread when people with the flu cough, sneeze or talk. Someone also might get the flu by touching something that has the flu virus on it and then touching their own mouth, eyes or nose. It’s easy to see how the flu can spread through a workplace, causing a spike in sick days and lost productivity. Symptoms of the flu to watch for include –

How to protect yourself and your colleagues

The best form of prevention is the flu vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends everyone age 6 months and older get a flu vaccine. Other strategies include –

• Staying away from people who are sick
• Covering your mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze
• Washing hands often with soap and water
• Avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth to help prevent the spread of germs
• Cleaning and disinfecting hard surfaces and objects

Hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes are a good investment for flu season, and will help lower the chances of the flu wreaking havoc on your business.

Source: cdc.gov/flu.

Where to Get a Flu Shot

Visit your primary care provider or local pharmacy for your flu shot, or visit dhs.wisconsin.gov/influenza to find other locations. National Influenza Vaccination Week is December 2 – 8, presenting an opportunity to promote flu vaccines to your employees.

Source: dhs.wisconsin.gov/publications “Flu Shots 2016-2017,” (accessed 07/22/2018)