Workplace flu vaccination

In 2020-2022, face-covering and physical distancing were responsible for the virtual disappearance of seasonal flu. Following the lifting of these measures, the last flu season (2022-2023) saw a return to even higher flu rates than those observed before COVID-19! With the arrival of the next season of respiratory infections (influenza, respiratory syncitial virus, COVID-19) in the autumn, will the population return to cautious behavior? Does the drop in the number of cases observed prior to last year mean that many individuals are not yet "naturally" immunized or vaccinated against the next flu? Are we aware that vaccination against COVID-19 will not immunize us against the usual flu viruses?

Whatever the case, Health Canada and the World Health Organization recommend preparing for any eventuality. How can we do this? By offering vaccination programs to all those who are vulnerable or likely to come into contact with those most at risk, such as the elderly, immunosuppressed individuals, children e

On average, a person with influenza will be absent from work for around 3 days. For an employer, this represents a cumulative loss of 20 working days per 100 full-time employees. And that's not counting the risk of infecting loved ones who are more likely to suffer complications (young children, the elderly, etc.).

• In Canada, with the exception of 2020-2021, seasonal flu epidemics occur every year, usually in late fall and winter.
• Every year, an estimated 5-10% of adults and 20-30% of children worldwide contract influenza.
• During the last flu season, the effectiveness of the flu vaccine was close to 50%, which is considered good.
• Every year, the flu season peaks in December, but it can start as early as October. So it's best to get vaccinated as early as possible, although it can be done at any time during the flu season.
• The flu vaccine is safe, well tolerated and cannot cause the flu. It's either an inactivated vaccine, which contains no live virus, or a live attenuated vaccine, which contains a virus so weakened that it can't give you the flu.