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iamtheflu.com

CONFESSIONS of a flu vaccination programA Skin Patrol Investigation

• Discover the truth about flu vaccine effectiveness• Top three ways to further reduce flu absenteeism by over 100%

Published 15 Feb 2015Skin Patrol Pty Ltdiamtheflu.com

It is a common misconception that flu vaccination clinics are the best and only way to reduce flu related absenteeism. With the northern hemisphere having a higher than average incidence of the flu and a lower than average vaccine effectiveness1 it is important to understand what can be done this winter to better fight the effects of the flu on your organisation. This report highlights some important facts about traditional flu program effectiveness and provides a solution for improving flu awareness and early intervention to reduce absenteeism.

A typical flu vaccination program could only save as little as 8 out of an expected 48 days of sick leave per 100 employees; that’s less than 20%. That could still generate a positive return on investment, but you could further reduce the number of sick days taken by over 100%

“In healthy adults, flu vaccines have only a modest effect in reducing flu symptoms and working days lost”

“When initiated promptly, antiviral therapy can reduce the duration of symptoms by 1-3 days when administered within the first 24-30 hours”2

RAGCP Clinical Guidelines

Flu programs: How effective are they?

Flu programs are likely to save only 20% of expected sick days

Flu programs are likely to save only 20% of expected sick days

Key workplace flu program facts:

The flu awareness gapMost Flu programs are delivered 3 months before the peak of flu season, resulting in low early intervention and high presenteeism.

Modest effect on working days lostIn healthy adults, vaccines have only a modest effect in reducing flu symptoms and working days lost

No early intervention solutionsWhen initiated promptly, anti-viral therapy available from your GP can reduce the duration of symptoms by 1-3 days when administered in the first 24-36 hours2

Low uptakeUptake of flu vaccinations at work and in the broader community is low, typically less than 30% in people under the age of 50

JAN

FEB

MAR AP

R

MAY

JUN

JUL

AUG

SEP

OCT

NO

V

DEC

Flu shot uptake

Flu incidence

Sources: Newspoll Omnibus and Google flu trends Australia

Flu awareness gap

The flu awareness gapAs illustrated in the graph below, flu vaccinations are run between the months of March and May but peak flu season does not occur until 3-4 months later. As a result, flu symptom awareness and early intervention guidance is not prevalent when it is most needed. This is likely to lead to high presenteeism and a low number of staff seeing a GP within 24-30 hours of flu symptoms onset.

Take up of the flu vaccine among people under the age of 50 is low and even free workplace flu programs struggle to achieve greater than 30% participation.

The truth about flu vaccine uptake

73%46%29%23%24%39%

65+50-6435-4925-3418-24All adults

Australian adults who had a flu shot in 2014Source: Newspoll Omnibus

1. People believing they are healthy/ don’t need one2. Inconvenience of getting a shot/ forgetting to get one in time3. A view that vaccinations don’t work4. A dislike of needles5. A misconception the vaccine can give you the flu

The 5 top reasons people don’t get a flu shot3

These reasons are consistent over many years and make it

unlikely that your staff uptake will be above 39% this flu season

The 5 top reasons people don’t get a flu shot3

Why flu vaccines are NOT 100% effective!How well the flu vaccine works (or its ability to prevent flu illness) can range widely from season to season. The vaccine’s effectiveness also can vary depending on who is being vaccinated. At least two factors play an important role in determining the likelihood that flu vaccine will protect a person from flu illness: 1) characteristics of the person being vaccinated (such as their age and health), and 2) the similarity or “match” between the flu viruses the flu vaccine is designed to protect against and the flu viruses spreading in the community.

During years when the flu vaccine is not well matched to circulating viruses, it’s possible that no benefit from flu vaccination may be observed. During years when there is a good match between the flu vaccine and circulating viruses, it’s possible to measure substantial benefits from vaccination in terms of preventing flu illness (60-80%). However, even during years when the vaccine match is very good, the benefits of vaccination will vary across the population, depending on character-istics of the person being vaccinated and even, potentially, which vaccine was used.4

From a return on investment perspective, running a workplace flu program is still worthwhile but there is much more that you can do to potentially save more lost days of productivity due to the flu this winter.

Read on to learn aboutour new FluCube™ program

The truth about flu vaccine effectiveness

As well as offering flu shots, or at least encouraging them, you should ensure staff understand:

• How to best prevent the flu and stop spreading it (through good hygiene practices)

• The early warning symptoms of the flu• The importance of early intervention by seeing a GP within 24-30

hours of flu symptom onset

Early Intervention - accessing prescriptions faster. When administered within 24-30 hours of flu symptom onset, antiviral medication can reduce the duration of flu symptoms by 1-3 days. The Desktop FluCube™ and FluPad™ not only provide a visual reminder to seek medical treatment quickly, they connect staff to a panel of online doctors who can prescribe appropriate medication for immediate pick-up in your local pharmacy. The cube fits over standard tissue boxes available through major office supply providers

Prevention - reducing the spread of flu and presenteeismA contagion spread by a single ill worker can impose health costs on your company which can be several times higher than the direct costs of absenteeism of the specific workers5.Our new flu website - www.iamtheflu.com provides staff with information and videos about prevention, guides for minimising the spread of the virus and appropriate care pathways for getting fast, early intervention.

Interactive NFC postersInteractive NFC (near field communication) enabled posters featuring Tapit™ technology provide highly visible and engaging content during peak flu season. Staff can tap or scan their phone on the posters and be connected through to the iamtheflu website for more information and early intervention pathways.

Introducing the FluCube™ ProgramCombat workplace flu like never beforeThe FluCube™ Program promotes prevention, awareness and early intervention - helping you reduce flu related absenteeism.

Early intervention helps staff get better faster

High awareness during peak flu season.

Fast access to online doctors and prescriptions

Pre-order your FluCube™ prevention & early intervention program in March and save 25%.

• Your choice of a interactive Flucube™ or FluPad™ for every staff member• A $15 dollar voucher for every staff member for an online GP consultation (valid to

December 31 for any consultation)• Access to discount flu shots through Chemmart Chemist for every staff member• Fortnighly flu update emails for distribution to staff• FluCube™ program rollout materials

• 10 A3 interactive NFC posters for every 100 staff

• For every 100 staff it’s likely you will have 12 people get the flu each season• A standard flu vaccination program is likely to only save 8 out of an expected 48

days sick leave (per 100 staff)• Through better timed education and early intervention we estimate you could save

up to 25% sick leave from the unvaccinated staff (and those for whom the vaccine didn’t work)

• Potential sick days saved from a flu vaccination clinic (per 100 staff) = 8

• Potential BONUS sick days saved from FluCube™ Program (per 100 staff) = 10

The FluCube™ program includes

How you can justify investing in the FluCube program

Program Cost: $19.95 per staff member

Pre-order by March 31 for a 25% discount - $14.95 per staff member

For more information contact info@iamtheflu.com

or the Skin Patrol team on 1800 103 704

Note: Posters will be distributed in the second week of April, FluCubes™ and FluPads™ will be

distributed in the second week of May.

Date & Time (Local) Cost) BookBookBookBookBookBookBookBookBookBookBookBookBookBookBookBook

01/01 09:20 am (thu) $6901/01 09:40 am (thu) $6901/01 10:00 am (thu) $4901/01 10:15 am (thu) $4901/01 10:30 am (thu) $4901/01 10:45 am (thu) $4901/01 11:00 am (thu) $4901/01 11:15 am (thu) $4901/01 11:30 am (thu) $4901/01 11:45 am (thu) $4901/01 12:00 pm (thu) $6901/01 12:20 pm (thu) $6901/01 12:40 pm (thu) $69

01/01 01:20 pm (thu) $6901/01 01:00 pm (thu) $69

New flu portal drives awareness, prevention & early detection

$15 dollar discount on all Online GP Appointments

Promotional toolsPhone/ tablet ready

Innovative NFC technology Easy connectivity

Highly visible

Your comprehensive flu package

iamtheflu.com

Promotional tools

In

DESCRIPTION UNITS AMOUNTUNIT PRICE

Per person package includes

$15 dollar discount voucher for online GP consultAccess to iamtheflu websiteAccess to discount flu shots through Chemmart ChemistsYour choice of NFC enabled FluCube™ or mousepad1 A3 sized NFC poster for every 10 units

Subtotal

10% GST

Total

$14.95*

PURCHASE ORDER

1800 103 704 08 8352 2665 info@iamtheflu.com

www.iamtheflu.com

COMPANY NAME

DATE

*25% discount for all orders submitted before March 31st

PAYMENT DETAILSVISA MASTERCARD

NAME ON CARD

PHONE NUMBER EMAIL

ADDRESS

CITY STATE POSTCODE

CARD NUMBER

AMOUNT TO CHARGE

SIGNATURE DATE

SHIPPING ADDRESS

SAME AS BILLING ADDRESSSEND INVOICE/ PURCHASE ORDER

$19.95*

References

1. Wed MD - http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/news/20141204/this-years-flu-vaccine-less-effective-than-hoped

2. RACGP Clinical Guidelines, Influenza - http://www.racgp.org.au/your-practice/guidelines/national-guide/respiratory-health/influenza-prevention/

3. Newspoll Omnibus Survey, June 2014. Summary Report Flu Vaccinations. Newspoll Ref 140604 - http://www.immunise.health.gov.au/internet/immunise/publishing.nsf/Content/5F19ABF49157CDA4CA257C230009F09E/$File/summ- report-flu-vaccinations-survey2014.pdf

4. Medibank Health Solutions: The costs of presenteeism to your business & the economy, July 2011 - http://www.medibank.com.au/client/Documents/Pdfs/sick_at_work.pdf

5. US Centre for Disease Control - http://www.cdc.gov/flu/