Flu Shot For Working Adults

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This web site addresses seasonal influenza

For more information regarding 2009 H1N1 flu, please visit: www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/

Working Adults

Stay Healthy and Working

Getting a flu shot can help keep you healthy and productive. It can also keep influenza out of your home. By avoiding influenza at work, you’ll be less likely to pass it on to your children, spouse, parents, grandparents, or other loved ones.

In an average year, working adults in the US miss 70 million days of work due to influenza. Experts estimate that the flu could cost US workers as much as $10 billion in lost wages during the 2006-2007 influenza season.⁶

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends an annual flu shot for everyone 6 months of age and older.^1,2 This includes you and all of your coworkers.

Influenza vaccination typically begins in the fall and can continue through the spring. In many seasons, influenza virus activity doesn't peak until February or March, so vaccination any time throughout the entire flu season is beneficial and recommended.¹

Other workers recommended for annual influenza vaccination are health-care professionals, who should receive the influenza vaccine to help protect not only themselves, but their patients. Many patients are at an increased risk for influenza and its related complications, so preventing the spread of influenza in a health-care setting is especially important. Unfortunately, only 44% of health-care professionals currently remember to get their annual flu shot.¹

No matter where you work, vaccination is a safe and effective way to avoid influenza. Get your flu shot this and every year.

Did you know?

Portrait Gallery

Kristi Yamaguchi

National Spokesperson

Olympic Gold Medalist Kristi Yamaguchi takes her career as a figure skater seriously. Yet, since her victory on "Dancing with the Stars," and experience as an American role model, she has taken on an even more serious role in life – her family. As the mother of two young children, Kristi knows that influenza immunization is a must for everyone in her family.
Bob Khan

Fire Chief, City of Phoenix Fire Department

Fire Chief Bob knows that, healthy or not, the flu and its complications can stop him and his crew of 2000 firefighters in their tracks.
Hugo Alvarez, MD

American Lung Association of Illinois, Greater Chicago

Hugo Alvarez, MD, knows all too well the dangers influenza and its related complications can cause for people with asthma—even more so when families are not educated on the dangers of influenza and the need to get vaccinated.
Lourdes “Lori” Diaz

Clinical Nurse Supervisor

Lourdes Diaz knows the importance of being immunized against the flu—she's worked in health-care for over 15 years. She got influenza during a busy year when she did not have time to get a flu shot and lost nearly a week's work—and pay.
Sheryl Swoopes

Three-time Olympic Gold Medalist, Basketball Star, and Mother

Legendary women's basketball player Sheryl Swoopes gets vaccinated against the flu every year to help protect herself as well as her son, Jordan, who lives with asthma.
Mike Quick

Pro-football Player, Announcer, Son, and Father

At the age of 32, five-time Pro Bowler and former Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Mike Quick was tackled by the flu. The virus hit him so hard that he was hospitalized for 3 days.
Tyra Bryant-Stephens, MD

Director, Community Asthma Prevention Program, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

As founder of the Community Asthma Prevention Program at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Dr. Tyra Bryant-Stephens knows how dangerous the flu can be to children with asthma and other respiratory problems.
Vonetta Flowers

Olympic Gold Medalist and Mother

Olympic Gold Medalist Vonetta Flowers was almost sidelined by the flu during her days as a college athlete, but she persevered from this illness and went on to become the first-ever black athlete from any nation to win a gold medal at the 2002 Winter Olympics.
Linda DeLude

Mother of Two Who Lost Her Husband Barry, a Minneapolis Firefighter, to Influenza

Linda DeLude's husband Barry, a Minneapolis firefighter, was her best friend. He was always healthy, so Linda never thought about making sure he was vaccinated against influenza. But Barry was infected with influenza in March 2007—tragically, he died from the disease.
Scott Jones

Sacramento County Sheriff's Captain

As a Sheriff's Captain, Scott Jones knows part of his job means taking risks to make sure Sacramento County is a safe place to live. But one risk Scott refuses to take is getting influenza—he gets himself and his family vaccinated every year.
Mark Williams, MD

Pulmonary Disease Specialist, American Lung Association Board Member

Mark Williams, MD, sees many "faces" of influenza on a daily basis as everyone 6 months of age and older is recommended for annual influenza immunization by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.^1,2
Edmundo Hidalgo

Husband, Father, and CEO of Chicanos Por La Causa

Edmundo Hidalgo is committed to encouraging Hispanics in the Phoenix area to get vaccinated against influenza each year. He also knows that Hispanics have higher rates of chronic conditions like asthma, which may put them at an increased risk for developing serious complications from influenza.^1,18