Because it keeps people healthy and saves lives! Every year, flu vaccination prevents illnesses, medical visits, hospitalizations, and deaths. Flu vaccination is an important preventive tool for people with chronic health conditions like heart disease, diabetes, asthma, and other diseases.

Vaccinating pregnant women helps protect them from flu illness and hospitalization. It has also been shown to help protect the baby from flu infection for several months after birth, before the baby can be vaccinated. While some people who get vaccinated still get sick, flu vaccination has been shown in several studies to reduce the severity of illness.

There is NO COST – under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), preventive care services, like influenza (flu) vaccine, is provided to the patient at no cost.

Tip: Reminding everyone that this is a no-cost vaccine may lead to greater rates of vaccination.

No. The vaccine only works for the flu, but the flu and COVID-19 are respiratory viruses, and depending on their severity, they can lead to hospitalization and the use of similar treatment interventions. The symptoms of flu can be difficult to distinguish from COVID-19 and so getting vaccinated and preventing influenza illness will help avoid visits to healthcare providers or hospitals and the anxiety that goes with it.

Tip: Underscore the importance of receiving the flu vaccine by putting into broader perspective. Having a surge in flu illness, coupled with COVID-19, has the serious potential to overwhelm our U.S. health care system, similar or far worse than what we have experienced to-date with COVID-19 cases alone.

Yes. The preventive hygiene and other measures such as hand and respiratory hygiene, avoiding those who are sick, wearing a face mask, and disinfecting surfaces work for both flu and COVID-19.

Tip: Remind everyone that the exception is the flu vaccine, which only works for influenza.

• Flu and You (CDC)
  A 6-page pdf about the flu, how it spreads, symptoms, high risk groups, duration of infection, prevention and treatment.
• Are You at Risk for Serious Flu-Related Complications?(NFID)
  A webpage with information on who is at increased risk for flu complications.
• Flu Guide for Parents(CDC)
  A 2-page pdf of FAQs for parents on the flu.
• Everyday Preventive Actions for the Flu(CDC)
  A 1-page pdf going over preventative actions for the flu this season.
• Flu Preparedness Guide(NFID)
  A 1-page flu preparedness guide with important facts and a quick preparation checklist.
• Flu: What To Do If You Get Sick (CDC)
  Guidance on what to do if you are sick with the flu and antiviral medications.
• What to Know for the 2022-2023 Influenza Season (CDC)
  Answers to common questions regarding this flu season during the COVID-19 pandemic .

• A Strong Defense Against Flu: Get Vaccinated! (CDC)
  A 2-page pdf on flu shots.
• Communicating the Benefits of Seasonal Influenza Vaccine during COVID-19 (Immunization Action Coalition)
  A 1-page pdf the covers the benefits of getting flu shot during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Influenza Vaccine:Who Should Get It, and Who Should Not (CDC)
  A 2-page pdf on who should and should not get vaccinated.
• Key Facts About Seasonal Flu Vaccine (CDC)
  Key facts on flu vaccine.
• Misconceptions about Seasonal Flu and Flu Vaccines (CDC)
  Info regarding myths/misconceptions about the flu shot.
• Influenza (Flu) Vaccine (Inactivated or Recombinant): What you need to know (CDC)
  A 2-page pdf vaccine information sheet on inactivated flu shot.
• Influenza (Flu) Vaccine (Live, Intranasal): What You Need to Know (CDC)
  A 2-page pdf vaccine information sheet on live, intranasal flu shot.
• Places to Get Your Flu Vaccine Website that finds the nearest location that administers the vaccine you want using an address or zip code you enter.

• Make It Your Business To Fight The Flu (CDC)
  A toolkit on strategies businesses and employers can take to help fight the flu.
• Promoting Seasonal Flu Vaccination: A Checklist for Businesses and Employers (CDC)
  A 1-page pdf checklist to guide employers to promote flu vaccinations.
• Feeling Sick? Poster (CDC)
  A 1-page flyer/poster going over what symptoms should lead employees to stay home from work.
• Employer Guidance: Reducing Healthcare Workers' Exposures to Seasonal Flu Virus (OSHA)
  Flu guidance for healthcare employers.
• Employer Guidance: Reducing All Workers' Exposures to Seasonal Flu Virus (OSHA)
  Flu guidance for non-healthcare employers.

• 1. Prevention and Control of Seasonal Influenza with Vaccines: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, 2022-23 (ACIP)
  4-page pdf summary recommendations for flu vaccines this flu season.
• Make a Strong Flu Vaccine Recommendation (CDC)
  3-page pdf with guidance on recommending the flu vaccine to patients and a table on the types of vaccines available this flu season.
• Talking with Your Patient about Contraindications and Precautions to Influenza Vaccination (IAC)
  Guidance for addressing common patient concerns about the influenza vaccine.
• Information on Influenza Testing and Treatment when Influenza and SARS-CoV-2 Activity is High (CDC)
  Resources related to testing and treatment of influenza when SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses are co-circulating, including guidance on when to test for influenza.
• Standing orders for Administering Influenza Vaccine to Adults (Immunization Action Coalition)
  4-page pdf protocol for administering flu shots to adults for this flu season.
• Pediatric/Adult Influenza Vaccine 2022-2023 (California Dept. of Health)
  1-page pdf of a visual guide for all available U.S. flu vaccines for this flu season.
• Information for Health Professionals (CDC)
  CDC webpage on seasonal influenza for healthcare professionals.
• Ask The Experts (Immunization Action Coalition)
  FAQs geared towards healthcare professionals on this flu season by IAC.
• Cover Your Cough (Minnesota Dept. of Health)
  Cover your cough website with educational materials that can be printed to be posted on walls or handed to patients.

You may choose to have it originate from a leadership member or healthcare professional to lend it credibility and earnestness. Download this sample message to get started.

Create and place a banner on flu vaccination and a link to the educational resources included above.

Place posters/flyers/banners on flu prevention in high traffic areas of your business/organization such as the Cover Your Cough posters from the CDC.

Create a sense of timeliness and importance by adding it to your next meeting agenda– a high-priority agenda item for department meeting or other team meetings. Ask your department leads to review with their team preventive measures and the importance of flu vaccinations. Include locations where they can get a flu vaccination, if appropriate. Consider sharing slides with this information.

Craft a voice-mail blast using the voice of a well-known leadership member or healthcare professional on the importance of flu vaccination, how to get vaccinated, and where to find educational material to support their outreach efforts.