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| Employee Health & Wellness |
| Preventive Medicine: Company Flu Shots |
Health professionals commonly recommend flu shots to certain "vulnerable" groups, but your company just might boost its productivity levels this winter by providing in-house vaccinations and preventing the illness from wreaking havoc.
The viral strains of influenza are labeled Type A, Type B and Type C. A new vaccination must be formulated each year based on the World Health Organization's prediction of which strains of the virus are most likely to circulate. In other words, last year's flu shot probably won't do you any good this year.
Educating employees about influenza may save them unnecessary trips to the doctor as well, since influenza is a virus and antibiotics do nothing to cure it. The flu is a respiratory illness similar to a cold, but much worse, so the phrase "a touch of the flu" (used to describe mild stomach upset) is not really flu at all.
When flu hits, you usually know it. Generally, the flu has a sudden onset (you can determine the exact hour you started feeling lousy). It is accompanied by significant fever, muscle aches, and often, severe cough.
If you happen to get the flu, be sure to get plenty of rest, and drink lots of liquids. A vaporizer may help. Aspirin will help the muscle aches and fever. If you feel good enough to get up and move around, or go to work, go ahead. Your family and co-workers were exposed during the incubation period--three days before you started feeling sick.
Sources: Collins, Lois M. "Fighting Flu." Deseret News.
Vickery, Donald M., M.D and James F. Fries, M.D. "Colds and Flu." Take Care of Yourself.
Fifth edition, Addison-Wesley: 225-26
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