Employers - FLu Vs. CoVID

With flu season rapidly approaching, health safety experts are hoping employers encourage flu vaccines to reduce the risk of co-infection with COVID-19 and also to help with screening out influenza versus coronavirus. Flu risk is cause for significant concern due to the potential increased burden on healthcare facilities as well as the risk to patients who are already compromised during hospitalization. 

Due to the overlap of some symptoms of both influenza and coronavirus, it can be difficult to determine what an infected person is suffering from.  Additionally, co-infection cases have already been reported in the Southern Hemisphere. 

 A recent Mercer survey found that only 62% of employers are planning to provide special communication regarding the importance of flu vaccination this year.  In past years, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has stated that employers can require flu shots as long as the need for vaccination is work-related. The healthcare industry is an excellent example where flu vaccination can be required on the job.  Typically though, the EEOC recommends that employers strongly encourage the flu vaccine versus mandate it.  This year the EEOC is also advising that employers may need to find ways to account for possible reactions to the flu shot which could potentially mirror coronavirus symptoms.

Source: https://www.businessinsurance.com/article/20200916/NEWS08/912336636/Collision-of-influenza-season,-COVID-19-move-flu-vaccines-to-forefront-coronavir