We're sorry, but OSHAcademy doesn't work properly without JavaScript enabled. Please turn on JavaScript or install a browser that supports Javascript.

738 Workplace Hygiene and Illness Prevention Program Management
Skip to main content

Vaccination Program

An employer-sponsored vaccination program can reduce employee absenteeism, improve workplace productivity, and improve organization morale.

Vaccines contain the same viruses that cause disease, but they have been either killed or weakened to the point that they don't make you sick. Some vaccines only contain viral fragments and not the entire virus.

A vaccine stimulates the immune system to produce antibodies as if you were exposed to the actual disease. After getting vaccinated, a person develops immunity to that disease, without having to get the disease first. Unlike most medicines that are used to treat or cure diseases, vaccines prevent them.

Promote Flu Vaccination

Encourage employees to receive the flu vaccine by hosting flu vaccination clinics. Hosting a flu vaccination clinic can help remove some of the obstacle's employees face, which prevents them from participating.

Encourage employees by:

  • providing the flu vaccine at no cost to the employee
  • scheduling the clinic to maximize employee participation
  • granting time during an employee's workday to receive the flu vaccine
  • offering the flu vaccination to employee's families
  • using incentives to increase participation (e.g., provide refreshments, hold a contest)
  • promoting the clinic using posters, emails, and promotional flyers
  • providing a comfortable location

If your organization is unable to host an on-site clinic, consider establishing policies that allow employees to take an hour or two to go off-site to receive the flu vaccination.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

4-17. What potential benefits can a vaccination program provide employers?