OWC Health Awareness Series: Flu Prevention Awareness

OWC Health Awareness Series: Flu Prevention/Vaccine Awareness

Each year, influenza (the flu) causes millions of infections worldwide, with severe complications for the very young, the elderly, and people with underlying conditions. Even for otherwise healthy employees, travel, close contact, and seasonal changes increase exposure and vulnerability.

For organizations that care about staff well-being and cost control, encouraging flu vaccination isn’t just public health – it’s smart risk management.

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Understanding the Impact

• Global burden: Seasonal flu causes an estimated 3-5 million severe cases and up to 650,000 deaths annually worldwide according to the WHO.
• Productivity impact: Flu-related absenteeism costs employers millions of lost workdays each year – much of which is preventable with timely vaccination.
• Simple economics: The cost of a flu vaccine is often less than a single day of lost productivity for a full-time employee.
• Timing matters: It takes about 2 weeks for flu vaccines to become fully effective, so early action is critical.
• Not just the elderly: Up to 40% of flu hospitalizations are among adults aged 18–64 – the core working population.

💡 Why flu prevention matters at work: Studies show flu can cost employers thousands in sick leave and lost productivity per infected employee. Prevention is both a health and business priority.

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Peak Flu Season

• In the Northern Hemisphere, flu season typically runs October through March, with peak activity between December and February.
• In the Southern Hemisphere, it generally runs April through September, peaking in June-August.
• In tropical regions, influenza can circulate year-round, with spikes tied to rainy seasons.

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What You Can Do = Get Vaccinated

• Get vaccinated early: The best time is before flu season begins (September–October in the Northern Hemisphere).
• Understand the vaccine: It trains your immune system to recognize circulating flu strains, reducing severity, hospitalization rates, and complications.
• Encourage uptake across the workforce: All staff benefit from vaccination, but it’s especially important for employees with chronic conditions or frequent travelers.
• Track vaccination rates: Use wellness platforms, surveys, or HR dashboards to monitor uptake and target outreach.

READ MORE >> Flu vs. COVID: Are They Now the Same – and Should Your International Health Insurance Plan Cover Both Vaccines?

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Best Time to Get the Vaccine

• The ideal time is before flu season begins – usually September through October in the Northern Hemisphere.
• Vaccination takes about 2 weeks to provide full protection.
• Even if you miss the “early” window, it’s still worth getting vaccinated later in the season, as flu often peaks after December.

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How the Community Can Support and Amplify Awareness

• On-site vaccination clinics: Bring a healthcare provider into the workplace to make vaccination simple and convenient.
• Internal awareness campaigns: Posters, intranet banners, and info sessions build visibility and trust.
• Leverage social media: Encourage staff to share when they’ve been vaccinated, using flu awareness hashtags.
• Align with wellness initiatives: Integrate flu vaccination into broader health campaigns, like stress reduction or mental health support.

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Resources: Employee Toolkits/Educational Materials

CDC Preventing Seasonal Flu >>

CDC Healthy Habits to Prevent Flu >>

CDC Misconceptions About Seasonal Flu and Flu Vaccines >>

Families Fighting Flu Resources >>

Public Health Agency of Canada Flu Awareness Resources >>

Resources: One World Cover Flu Prevention Awareness Poster

VIEW/DOWNLOAD POSTER HERE>>

# Common social medical hashtags for flu prevention awareness

#FightFlu #GetYourFluShot #WinterWellness #HealthyThisWinter

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Why Flu Prevention Awareness Matters for Employers

Maintaining workforce productivity: Vaccination reduces absenteeism, presenteeism, and recovery times.

Duty of care: Supporting staff access to vaccines shows employees their health is valued.

Cost-effectiveness: Preventive vaccination campaigns are modest in cost compared with severe flu cases requiring hospitalization.

Building resilience: Flu prevention strengthens overall workforce health and reduces pressure on health plans.

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Flu Vaccines

Mainland China

Beijing New Century Riverville Clinic Flu Vaccine CNY113 (~USD15)

Beijing Hong Kong International Medical Center Flu Vaccine CNY113 (~USD16)

Beijing Oasis Hospital Flu Vaccine CNY113 (~USD16)

Beijing Raffles Hospital Flu Vaccine CNY113 (~USD16)

Beijing United Family Hospital and Clinics Adult Flu Vaccine CNY113 (~USD16) (scan QR code in WeChat)

Beijing United Family Hospital and Clinics Pediatric Flu Vaccine CNY888 (~USD122) (scan QR code in WeChat)

Chengdu Distinct Healthcare Flu Vaccine CNY98 (~USD14)

Chengdu Global Doctor Flu Vaccine CNY260 (~USD36)

Delta Clinic Hongqiao Flu Vaccine CNY118 (~USD16)

Delta Hospital Qingpu Flu Vaccine CNY118 (~USD16)

Guangzhou EurAm Medical Center Flu Vaccine CNY198 (~USD27)

Guangzhou Iborn Hospital Flu Vaccine CNY299 (~USD41)

Nanjing Taikang Hospital Flu Vaccine

Qingdao New Century Women & Childrens Hospital Flu Vaccine CNY198 (~USD27)

Shanghai Changning Delta Health Flu Vaccine CNY118 (~USD16)

Shanghai Gubei ParkwayHealth Flu Vaccine CNY128 (~USD18)

Shanghai Jiahui Hospital Flu Vaccine CNY128 (~USD18)

Shanghai Sino-United Health Flu Vaccine CNY118 (~USD16)

Tianjin New Century Women and Children’s Hospital Flu Vaccine CNY153 (~USD21)

Tianjin Raffles Medical Flu Vaccine CNY288 (~USD40)

Wuhan Distinct HealthCare Chuhehanjie Clinic Flu Vaccine CNY243 (~USD34)

Wuhan Distinct HealthCare Flu Vaccine CNY243 (~USD34)

Wuhan Optics Valley Hospital Flu Vaccine CNY155 (~USD21)

Yantai Taibo Medical Flu Vaccine CNY180 (~USD25)

Hong Kong

Gleneagles Healthcare Medical Flu Vaccine HKD268/450/530 (~USD35/60/70)

Adventist Health Medical Flu Vaccine HKD480 (~USD62)

Korea

National Medical Center International Travel Clinic Medical Flu Vaccine KRW30,000 (~USD20)

Thailand

Samitivej Hospital Medical Flu Vaccine THB900 (~USD28)

Bangkok Hospital Headquarter Medical Flu Vaccine THB1,000 (~USD31)

Bumrungrad International Hospital Medical Flu Vaccine THB1,100 (~USD34)

WellMed Clinic Medical Flu Vaccine THB670 (~USD21)

Vietnam

FV Hospital Medical Flu Vaccine VND816,000/879,000 (~USD31/33)

Myanmar

Victoria Hospital Medical Flu Vaccine

Parami General Hospital Vaccine Center

Singapore

Parkway Shenton Flu Vaccine SGD43.50 (~USD34)

Malaysia

Columbia Asia Flu Vaccine MYR70 (~USD17)

Pantai Hospital Kuala Lampur Flu Vaccine MYR65 (~USD16)

Prince Court Medical Center Flu Vaccine MYR98 (~USD24)

Brunei

Jerudong Park Medical Centre Vaccination for Adults

Jerudong Park Medical Centre Vaccination for Children

Indonesia

EMC Healthcare Flu Vaccine IDR350,000 (~USD21)

Surabaya Ciputra Hospital Flu Vaccine IDR395,000 (~USD24)

Surabaya National Hospital Flu Vaccine IDR390,000 (~USD23)

India

Delhi Apollo Hospital Flu Vaccine INR2,200 (~USD25)

Mumbai Apollo Hospital Flu Vaccine INR2,200 (~USD25)

Sri Lanka

Asiri Health Vaccination Clinic

Durdans Hospital Vaccination Clinic

Bangladesh

Popular Medical College Hospital Vaccination Centre

Nepal

Clinic One Flu Vaccine NPR3,650 (~USD26)

UAE

Emirates Hospital Flu Vaccine AED99 (~USD27)

Medcare Hospital Flu Vaccine

Saudi German Hospital Dubai AED149 (~USD40)

Qatar

Al-Hayat Medical Center Medical Flu Vaccine

American Hospital Clinics Flu Vaccine

** Important Note: While we help guide members to high-quality options, OWC Care does not act as a medical referral service. The final decision on where to seek care rests with the individual. We are not liable for any decisions made by the member or the medical provider.