SCDHB

South Canterbury workplaces are seeing the value of influenza immunisation programmes, with a number of employers offering annual flu shots as part of their employee wellness programmes.

For several years Fulton Hogan has offered all staff flu shots prior to their annual health checks. Health and Safety Advisor Anouska Black says, "Staff who get immunised one year tend to come back in following years because, obviously, they don't catch the flu. I heard from an employee who skipped one year and caught the flu. They've already told me they'll be back this year for their shot."

Fonterra Occupational Health Nurse Judy Zigliani says its workforce is comprised of many shift workers, who can be at risk of a lessened immune response to illness. "Flu shots really make sense for us. Our immunisation programme gets underway soon."

Sanford's is another local employer offering flu shots, where about local management reports about a third of staff take it up.

South Canterbury DHB Immunisation Coordinator Deb Batchelor says flu shots have been offered to DHB and hospital staff for a number of years, and uptake has grown year on year. "For heath care workers, it's part of our duty of care. We're caring for people who are already ill or injured, or we're supporting the people working directly with them. The more staff who get immunised helps to create a wall of protection around themselves, their colleagues, patients and their families."

A person who goes to work with the flu or any other communicable disease is a hazard in the workplace under the NZ Health and Safety Act (1992). Studies show that the impact of the flu hitting a workforce has real and significant costs, including absenteeism, interrupted customer service, lost sales, missed deadlines, temporary staff hire costs, and reduced work output when sick staff stay at work.

Ms Batchelor says that even if your workplace does not offer flu shots, you can still get one from your GP for a small charge. The 2011 seasonal influenza vaccine includes protection against three types of flu, including the Pandemic H1N1 Influenza 09 (swine flu), which is expected to be the predominant virus in New Zealand this season.

The vaccine is free until 31 July for people who at high risk of complications from influenza: those age 65 years and over, anyone under 65 with long-term health conditions such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, respiratory disease (including asthma), kidney disease, most cancers, and conditions which suppress the immune system, and pregnant women.

For more information contact:

Arlene Goss

Communications Advisor

agoss@scdhb.health.nz

Ph 03 627 2395

027 276 4259