Make It Your Business

To Fight The Flu

A Toolkit for Businesses and Employers

Promoting the 2010 – 2011 Seasonal Flu Vaccine
Seasonal 

Flu 

Vaccine

Every year influenza, or “flu,” affects employers and businesses. Flu costs 

businesses approximately $10.4 billion* in direct costs for hospitalizations and 

outpatient visits for adults.

•While there are many different flu viruses, the flu vaccine protects against 

the three viruses that research suggests will be most common each year. 

•The 2010-2011 flu vaccine will protect against an influenza A H3N2 virus, 

an influenza B virus and the influenza A H1N1 virus that caused so much 

illness last season. 

•Everyone 6 months of age and older should get vaccinated against 

the flu as soon as seasonal vaccine is available. 

CDC recommends a yearly 

flu vaccine as the first 

and most important step 

in protecting against 

flu viruses

*Molinari NA, Ortega-Sanchez IR, Messonnier ML, et al. The annual impact of seasonal influenza in the US: measuring disease burden and costs. Vaccine. 2007; 25(27):5086-96. 
Table of Contents

1. Recommended Strategies for Businesses and Employers. Learn what two 

strategies are recommended to businesses and employers this flu season.

2. Promoting Seasonal Flu Vaccination: A Checklist for Businesses and 

Employers. Use this checklist to get started! 

3. Flu Vaccine Clinic Here! Host a flu vaccine clinic in the workplace and use 

this flyer. Complete with fillable text boxes so you can add the location, 

date, and time of your flu vaccine clinic.

4. You Need a Flu Vaccine. Encourage employees to get vaccinated at 

locations in the community. Navigate to the Flu Vaccine Finder website to 

find locations offering flu vaccine, then update the flyer and post.

5. Note to Self. Share this flyer with employees to encourage flu vaccination. 

Consider posting this in the workplace, or copy and place in mailboxes or 

include in pay statements or newsletters.

6. Note to Small Businesses. Share this flyer with other workplace managers 

and supervisors to kickoff discussions about flu vaccination planning.

7. CDC Says “Take 3 Actions” To Fight The Flu. Use this brochure to promote 

flu vaccination.

8. Key Facts about Influenza (Flu) & Flu Vaccine. Know the answers to 

questions about the seasonal flu and vaccination.

9. Links. Be aware of helpful links for businesses and employers.

10. Web Tools. Promote flu vaccination using web technology.

11. Print Materials. Take advantage of helpful materials to learn about 

seasonal flu, plus additional posters and brochures.

Make It Your Business

To Fight The Flu

Promoting the 2010 – 2011 Seasonal Influenza Vaccine 
Recommended Strategies for Businesses and Employers 

The purpose of this Toolkit is to help businesses and employers fight the flu and 

to offer tips and suggestions to consider when planning and responding to the 

seasonal flu. Additional information can be found at the CDC website, 

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/business

CDC recommends two strategies this season 

for businesses and employers to help fight the flu. 

Strategy 1: Host a flu vaccination clinic in the workplace. 

To minimize absenteeism, employers frequently offer onsite seasonal flu 

vaccination to employees at no or low cost to their employees. This option can 

work well if the employer has an on-site occupational health clinic. If you don’t 

have a clinic, pharmacies and community vaccinators can be contracted to provide 

seasonal flu vaccination services on-site.

Strategy 2: Promote flu vaccination in the community. 

Make sure your employees know where they and their family can get seasonal flu 

vaccination in the community. Find out about health providers, pharmacies or 

clinics that offer seasonal flu vaccinations in your community. Partner with a 

pharmacy or provider to get your employees vaccinated.

Even healthy people can get the flu, and it can be serious.

Make It Your Business

To Fight The Flu

Promoting the 2010 – 2011 Seasonal Influenza Vaccine 
 Consider getting employees vaccinated against flu as a 

business priority and create a goal aligned with this effort.

 Identify a flu vaccination coordinator and/or team with 

defined roles and responsibilities. Occupational health 

personnel or workplace safety staff often lead these efforts 

for businesses. Determine if you will need to contract with 

an outside provider of flu vaccination services (such as a 

pharmacy or community immunizer). The planning process 

should also include input from employees, and labor 

representatives, if needed.

 Schedule the flu vaccination clinic to maximize employee 

participation. Flu season usually begins in the Fall each year.

 Provide sufficient and accessible flu vaccination in as 

many business locations as possible.

 Provide a comfortable and convenient location for the 

flu vaccination clinic. 

 Ask managers and supervisors to allow employees to 

attend an on-site flu vaccination clinics as part of their 

work day and without having to “go off of the clock.’” 

 Set an example by having managers and business 

leaders get vaccinated first. 

 Use incentives for flu vaccination to increase 

participation, such as offering vaccine at no or low cost, 

providing refreshments at the clinic, or holding a contest 

for the department with the highest percentage of 

vaccinated employees. 

 Promote the flu vaccination clinic with the following:

 Posters about flu vaccination can be posted in 

break rooms, the cafeteria, and other high traffic 

areas. 

 An article in the company newsletter and/or 

intranet about the clinic and flu prevention.

 Emails to inform employees of upcoming flu 

clinics.

 Promotional posters/flyers to advertise the 

date and time of the clinic should be posted in 

high traffic areas.

 Set a goal and help show employees how their 

participation matters. Each year, try to improve 

upon the percentage of employees vaccinated. 

 Consider offering flu vaccination to employees’ 

families.

Before getting started, review flu vaccination prevention and cost-saving facts with senior managers, 

employees, and unions, to encourage the promotion of flu vaccination. Determine if you will offer 

onsite flu vaccination (flu shot, nasal spray, or both) at your business location(s) 

and encourage employees to seek flu vaccination in the community.

 Consider allowing for employee absences for flu vaccinations. 

Establish policies that allow for employee to take an hour 

or two to seek flu vaccinations in the community. 

 Partner with nearby pharmacies or clinics to arrange for 

employees to get vaccinated.

 Promote flu vaccination with the following:

 Use promotional posters/flyers to advertise locations 

in the community that offer seasonal flu vaccinations. 

Display posters about the flu vaccination in break rooms, 

the cafeteria, and other high traffic areas. 

 Post an article in the company newsletter and/or 

intranet about the importance of flu vaccination and 

where to get vaccine in the community.

 Encourage flu vaccination for employees’ 

families by distributing take-home information 

at the workplace.

Promoting Seasonal Flu Vaccination 

A Checklist for Businesses and Employers

IF YOU CHOOSE TO PROMOTE FLU VACCINATION IN THE COMMUNITY:

IF YOU CHOOSE TO HOST A FLU VACCINATION CLINIC
Flu Vaccine Clinic Here!

Location:

Date:

Time:

Even healthy people can get the flu, and it can be serious.

CDC recommends a yearly 

flu vaccine as the first 

and most important step 

in protecting against 

flu viruses
You Need a Flu Vaccine

Even healthy people can get the flu, and it can be serious.

CDC recommends a yearly 

flu vaccine as the first 

and most important step 

in protecting against 

flu viruses
Note to Self

Even healthy people can get the flu, and it can be serious.

CDC recommends a yearly 

flu vaccine as the first 

and most important step 

in protecting against 

flu viruses
CDC recommends that all 

people ages 6 months and 

older get vaccinated.

Seasonal flu vaccinations 

begin every fall.

Find out about health 

providers, pharmacies or 

clinics that offer seasonal 

flu vaccinations in your 

community. 

Consider hosting a seasonal 

flu vaccine clinic at work.

Promote flu vaccination!

Note To Small Businesses

For a Small Business, Flu is a Big Disruption
Flu is a serious 

contagious disease 

that can lead to 

hospitalization

and even death. CDC Says

“ Take 3” 

Actions

To Fight The Flu

Flu-like symptoms 

include: 

■ fever

■ cough

■ sore throat

■ runny or stuffy nose 

■ body aches

■ headache

■ chills

■ fatigue

Some people may also have 

vomiting and diarrhea. People 

may be infected with the flu, 

and have respiratory symptoms 

without a fever. 

For more information, visit 

http://www.flu.gov

or call

800-CDC-INFO.

August 2010 CS214209-A
#3 Take flu antiviral 

drugs if your doctor

prescribes them.

■ If you get the flu, antiviral drugs can treat 

your illness. 

■ Antiviral drugs are different from antibiotics. 

They are prescription medicines (pills, liquid or 

an inhaled powder) and are not available overthe-counter. 

■ Antiviral drugs can make illness milder and 

shorten the time you are sick. They may also 

prevent serious flu complications. 

■ It’s very important that antiviral drugs be used 

early (within the first 2 days of symptoms) to treat 

people who are very sick (such as those who 

are hospitalized) or people who are sick with 

flu symptoms and who are at increased risk of 

severe flu illness, such as pregnant women, young 

children, people 65 and older and people with 

certain chronic health conditions. 

■ Flu-like symptoms include fever, cough, sore 

throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, 

headache, chills and fatigue. Some people may 

also have vomiting and diarrhea. People may 

be infected with the flu, and have respiratory 

symptoms without a fever. 

#2

 

Take everyday preventive

actions to stop the 

spread of germs.

■ Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when 

you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash 

after you use it.

■ Wash your hands often with soap and water. 

If soap and water are not available, use an 

alcohol-based hand rub.

■ Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. 

Germs spread this way.

■ Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

■ If you are sick with flu-like illness, CDC 

recommends that you stay home for at least 

24 hours after your fever is gone except to get 

medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever 

should be gone without the use of a feverreducing medicine.) 

■ While sick, limit contact with others as much as 

possible to keep from infecting them.

#1 Take time 

to get 

a flu vaccine.

■ CDC recommends a yearly flu vaccine as the first and 

most important step in protecting against flu viruses.

■ While there are many different flu viruses, the flu 

vaccine protects against the three viruses that 

research suggests will be most common.

■ The 2010–2011 flu vaccine will protect against an 

influenza A H3N2 virus, an influenza B virus and 

the 2009 H1N1 virus that caused so much illness 

last season.

■ Everyone 6 months of age and older should 

get vaccinated against the flu as soon as the 

2010–2011 season’s vaccine is available.

■ People at high risk of serious flu complications 

include young children, pregnant women, people 

with chronic health conditions like asthma, 

diabetes or heart and lung disease and people 

65 years and older.

■ Vaccination of high risk persons is especially 

important to decrease their risk of severe 

flu illness.

■ Vaccination also is important for health care 

workers, and other people who live with or care 

for high risk people to keep from spreading flu to 

high risk people.

■ Children younger than 6 months are at high risk 

of serious flu illness, but are too young to be 

vaccinated. People who care for them should be 

vaccinated instead.

CDC urges you to take the following actions to protect yourself and others from influenza (the flu):
What is Influenza (Also Called Flu)?

The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza 

viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness, and at times can lead to 

death. The best way to prevent the flu is by getting a flu vaccine

each year.

Symptoms of Flu 

People who have the flu often feel some or all of these symptoms:

• fever* or feeling feverish/chills 

• cough 

• sore throat 

• runny or stuffy nose 

• muscle or body aches 

• headaches 

• fatigue (very tired) 

*It’s important to note that not everyone with flu will have a fever.

How Flu Spreads 

Most experts believe that flu viruses spread mainly by droplets 

made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk. These droplets 

can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby. Less 

often, a person might also get flu by touching a surface or object 

that has flu virus on it and then touching their own mouth, eyes or 

nose.

Period of Contagiousness

You may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you 

know you are sick, as well as while you are sick. Most healthy adults 

may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms 

develop and up to 5-7 days after becoming sick. Some people, 

especially children and people with weakened immune systems, 

might be able to infect others for an even longer time.

How Serious is the Flu?

Flu is unpredictable and how severe it is can vary widely from one 

season to the next depending on many things, including:

• what flu viruses are spreading, 

• how much flu vaccine is available 

• when vaccine is available 

• how many people get vaccinated, and 

• how well the flu vaccine is matched to flu viruses that are 

causing illness. 

Certain people are at greater risk for serious complications if they 

get the flu. This includes older people, young children, pregnant 

women and people with certain health conditions (such as asthma, 

diabetes, or heart disease). 

One study found that during the 

1990s, flu-related deaths ranged 

from an estimated 17,000 during 

the mildest season to 52,000 

during the most severe season 

(36,000 average). Studies going 

back to 1976 have found that 

flu-related deaths ranged from a 

low of 4,700 to a high of 56,600 

(average 25,500). During a regular 

flu season, about 90 percent of 

deaths occur in people 65 years 

and older.

During 2009-2010, a new and very 

different flu virus (called 2009 

H1N1) spread worldwide causing 

the first flu pandemic in more than 40 years. It is estimated that 

the 2009 H1N1 pandemic resulted in more than 12,000 flu-related 

deaths in the U.S. In contrast to seasonal flu, nearly 90 percent of 

the deaths occurred among people younger than 65 years of age.

Complications of Flu

Complications of flu can include bacterial pneumonia, ear 

infections, sinus infections, dehydration, and worsening of chronic 

medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma, or 

diabetes.

Preventing Seasonal Flu: Get Vaccinated

The single best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu vaccine each 

season. There are two types of flu vaccines:

• The “flu shot”–an inactivated vaccine (containing killed 

virus) that is given with a needle. The seasonal flu shot is 

approved for use in people 6 months of age and older, 

including healthy people, people with chronic medical 

conditions and pregnant women. 

• The nasal–spray flu vaccine –a vaccine made with live, 

weakened flu viruses that do not cause the flu (sometimes 

called LAIV for “Live Attenuated Influenza Vaccine”). LAIV is 

approved for use in healthy* people 2-49 years of age who 

are not pregnant. 

About two weeks after vaccination, antibodies develop that 

protect against influenza virus infection. Flu vaccines will not 

protect against flu-like illnesses caused by non-influenza viruses.

The seasonal flu vaccine protects against the three influenza 

viruses that research suggests will be most common. The 2010-

2011 flu vaccine will protect against 2009 H1N1, and two other 

influenza viruses (an H3N2 virus and an influenza B virus).

Key Facts About Influenza (Flu) & Flu Vaccine

CS215924A

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
When to Get Vaccinated Against 

Seasonal Flu

Yearly flu vaccination should begin in September, or as soon as 

vaccine is available, and continue throughout the flu season which 

can last as late as May. This is because the timing and duration of 

flu seasons vary. While flu season can begin early as October, most 

of the time seasonal flu activity peaks in January or later.

Who is at Higher Risk for Developing 

Flu-Related Complications?

• Children younger than 5, but especially children younger 

than 2 years old, 

• Adults 65 years of age and older 

• Pregnant women, and, 

• People who have medical conditions including: 

» Asthma (even if it’s controlled or mild) 

» Neurological and neurodevelopmental conditions 

[including disorders of the brain, spinal cord, peripheral 

nerve, and muscle such as cerebral palsy, epilepsy 

(seizure disorders), stroke, intellectual disability (mental 

retardation), moderate to severe developmental delay, 

muscular dystrophy, or spinal cord injury]. 

» Chronic lung disease (such as chronic obstructive 

pulmonary disease [COPD] and cystic fibrosis) 

» Heart disease (such as congenital heart disease, congestive 

heart failure and coronary artery disease) 

» Blood disorders (such as sickle cell disease) 

» Endocrine disorders (such as diabetes mellitus) 

» Kidney disorders 

» Liver disorders 

» Metabolic disorders (such as inherited metabolic disorders 

and mitochondrial disorders) 

» Weakened immune system due to disease or medication 

(such as people with HIV or AIDS, or cancer, or those on 

chronic steroids) 

» People younger than 19 years of age who are receiving 

long-term aspirin therapy 

» People with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease 

(COPD) 

» People who are morbidly obese (Body Mass Index (BMI) of 

30 or greater) 

Also, last flu season, American Indians and Alaskan Natives seemed 

to be at higher risk of flu complications. 

Who else should get vaccinated? 

Other people for whom vaccination is especially important are:

• People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care 

facilities 

• People who live with or care for those at high risk for 

complications from flu, including: 

» Health care workers 

» Household contacts of persons at high risk for 

complications from the flu 

» Household contacts and caregivers of children younger 

than 5 years of age with particular emphasis on 

vaccinating contacts of children younger than 6 months 

of age (children younger than 6 months are at highest 

risk of flu-related complications but are too young to get 

vaccinated) 

Use of the Nasal Spray Seasonal Flu 

Vaccine

Vaccination with the nasal-spray flu vaccine is an option for 

healthy* people 2-49 years of age who are not pregnant. Even 

people who live with or care for those in a high risk group 

(including health care workers) can get the nasal-spray flu vaccine 

as long as they are healthy themselves and are not pregnant. The 

one exception is health care workers who care for people with 

severely weakened immune systems who require a protected 

hospital environment; these people should get the inactivated flu 

vaccine (flu shot).

Who Should Not Be Vaccinated Against 

Seasonal Flu

Some people should not be vaccinated without first consulting a 

physician. They include:

• People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs. 

• People who have had a severe reaction to an influenza 

vaccination in the past. 

• People who developed Guillian-Barré syndrome (GBS) within 

6 weeks of getting an influenza vaccine previously. 

• Children younger than 6 months of age (influenza vaccine is 

not approved for use in this age group). 

• People who have a moderate or severe illness with a fever 

should wait to get vaccinated until their symptoms lessen. 

If you have questions about whether you should get a flu vaccine, 

consult your health care provider.
Links 

CDC Seasonal Flu Website

http://www.cdc.gov/flu

Seasonal Flu Information for Workplaces and Employers

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/business

What’s New on Seasonal Flu (check back regularly!)

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/whatsnew.htm

Seasonal Flu Video and Audio Tools (great to use in meetings!)

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/freeresources/media.htm

Questions and Answers about Seasonal Flu

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/qa/disease.htm

More Information about Flu Vaccination

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/vaccine/index.htm 

What You Should Know about Flu Antiviral Drugs Fact Sheet

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/pdf/antiviral_factsheet1011.pdf

More Information from CDC and HHS on Seasonal and Pandemic Flu

http://flu.gov

National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, Help Reduce Flu at Work

http://www.nfid.org/docs/workplaceflu.html

National Business Group on Health, Vaccinating Against the Flu: A Business Case

http://www.businessgrouphealth.org/pdfs/Final%20Proof%20-%20Seasonal%20Influenza.pdf

Make It Your Business

To Fight The Flu

Promoting the 2010 – 2011 Seasonal Influenza Vaccine 
Web Tools

Click on the icon or go to the link for more tools, buttons, and widgets to use on 

your website or in your email signature line at work. 

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/freeresources/buttons_badges.htm

http://www.cdc.gov/flu/freeresources/web_tools.htm

Make It Your Business

To Fight The Flu

Promoting the 2010 – 2011 Seasonal Influenza Vaccine 
Print Materials

Everyday Preventive Actions That Can Help Fight Germs, Like Flu 

(Brochure)

Who Needs a Flu Vaccine 

(Poster)

Who Needs a Flu Vaccine 

(Poster)

CDC Says “Take 3 Actions” To Fight The Flu 

(Poster)

Make It Your Business

To Fight The Flu

Promoting the 2010 – 2011 Seasonal Influenza Vaccine 
Print Materials

Flu & You 

(Brochure)

Cover Your Cough 

(Poster)

Inactivated Influenza Vaccine Live, Intranasal Influenza Vaccine 

(Fact Sheet) (Fact Sheet)

Make It Your Business

To Fight The Flu

Promoting the 2010 – 2011 Seasonal Influenza Vaccine 

More Print Materials: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/freeresources/print.htm