A Shot in the Arm: Vaccines Can Benefit Your Employees – and Your Business

By Mary-Lou MacDonald

According to the World Health Organization, 40 new infectious diseases have emerged over the last generation, including SARS, MERS, the H1N1 influenza virus, the Zika virus and, most recently, COVID-19. In fact, infectious diseases were the main cause of death worldwide a century ago. However, immunization programs have minimized infectious diseases’ spread, and today comprise only a small percentage of all deaths in Canada.

Provincial health plans may cover a certain number of vaccines for adults, such for influenza, shingles, or tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis booster shot. There are many more vaccines available, but often government plans do not cover them.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought enormous attention to immunizations, but employers need to consider ensuring their workforce are vaccinated against other diseases — especially for workers who travel internationally, are older, who are immunocompromised or have co-morbidities. It’s important to remember that immunization doesn’t just protect those immunized but their co-workers as well.

The importance of vaccination

As the Commission on Future Health Care in Canada reported nearly 20 years ago, “Immunization is one of the most effective illness prevention strategies.”¹ That statement is as true today as it was in 2002.

Yet when organizations introduce a health promotion or wellness program, it’s far more likely to be a smoking cessation program or yoga classes than vaccine education or an actual vaccination program. However, both plan sponsors and members want vaccination programs: In a 2020 survey, “Immunizations for infectious diseases” was the top answer among employers and employees when asked what services they are interested in covering (sponsors) and what services they would use when added to their plan (members).²

The global pandemic has made employers and employees more aware of the risks of infectious diseases overall. It’s important to note that vaccinations provide numerous workplace benefits, including:

• Less absenteeism, greater productivity. When employees have been vaccinated, they remain healthy. This ensures they come to work regularly and perform effectively when they are on the job.
• Improved morale and retention. Encouraging vaccination sends a message that the organization cares about employees and their wellbeing. When employees feel valued, they are more likely to remain loyal to their employer.
• Greater focus on prevention and wellbeing. An organization with a positive focus can do more than simply encourage vaccination. It can remove obstacles by offering coverage that includes important vaccines or by hosting on-site clinics.
• An enormous ROI. It doesn’t cost a lot to encourage vaccination. But having healthy employees who actively protect their health means you’ll have a reduced number of and less serious claims than without vaccinations.

An Ounce of Prevention

Some of the most important vaccinations are for common infections, including influenza, pneumonia and shingles. However, because most employers are not focused on prevention, shots that aren’t provincially covered may not be covered by employee plans. In the wake of COVID-19, however, more employers view prevention as a viable tool to promote employee and organizational health.

Consider these tips for raising awareness and encouraging participation:

• Share information to raise awareness of the importance of vaccinations with your employees. Start with posters or emails to raise awareness but be innovative as well. For instance, conducting surveys and research to understand employee reservations on vaccines — and addressing those concerns directly — can go a long way towards improving employee engagement with a vaccination program.
• Review coverage for vaccines in your health plan policies. Learn what provincial plans cover. For example, the influenza vaccine is covered annually for all residents, but the shingles and pneumonia vaccines are available only to those older than 65. In British Columbia, the flu shot is provided free, but only to those at high risk such as young children and the elderly. Consider including coverage for vaccines that provincial plans do not cover otherwise.
• Eliminate roadblocks by hosting on-site clinics for vaccines and other inoculations. In British Columbia, this may prove especially helpful, as organizations that offer clinics usually cover the cost of the vaccination for their employees.

Unlike lifestyle changes, which take time to show their benefits, vaccines are literally a shot in the arm. Despite some employees’ reticence to avoid vaccinations, it’s always easier to prevent illness than to treat it.

Hub International’s employee benefits specialists consult with employers of all sizes and in all industries to tailor programs that meet your organization’s needs.

¹Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada, The Future of Health Care in Canada, November 2002.

²Sanofi Canada, Sanofi Canada Healthcare Survey 2020, June 18, 2020.