Highbrook Corporate Blogs

Are you wondering about onsite employee flu vaccination programmes? Our Group Nursing Director, Colleen Bowring, has the answers and details on how we can vaccinate in your workplace.

Like many businesses, having the flu spreading among your workforce causes significant spikes in necessary staff absenteeism, not to mention Covid and general staff burnout on top of that. It’s not unusual to begin to forecast for the fast-approaching winter flu season. The truth is that many of our Highbrook business partners are working tirelessly to manage staff shortages. 

What your Highbrook employees need to know about Influenza and the seasonal flu vaccine

Wouldn’t it be great to protect your employees before flu season starts this coming winter? Unsurprisingly, Influenza spreads quickly in the air and things that we touch. It’s hard to avoid. So the best protection against catching the flu is to be vaccinated. Undoubtedly, a highly vaccinated workplace will help slow the spread of Influenza and keep teams healthy and at work.

Three facts about why the seasonal influenza vaccine is needed to protect your employees (and your productivity) 

1. Seasonal flu affects 1 in 4 people in New Zealand. Many people have mild or even no symptoms. However, they can still spread the virus, which is highly infectious and transmits quickly. This, unfortunately, exposes other people in your workplace to the flu.
2. Unfortunately, often people who get the flu are off work for one to two weeks. Some people may even become very ill and need more time off work. Increased sick leave causes a financial impact on them and your business. Moreover, it takes around 2 weeks after being vaccinated for the vaccine to be fully effective. This means your employees may are still capable of contracting the flu if they come into contact with the virus. For that reason, we recommend that you get vaccinated before the virus starts to spread around your community.
3. The sad fact is that Influenza kills 500 New Zealanders each year. So you will be giving your employees the best protection against serious illness by encouraging them to get a flu jab at our Auckland clinic. Some people may become very ill and need more time off work, especially those with long term conditions like diabetes and heart disease. 

Like you, we at Highbrook Medical are committed to providing workplace wellbeing for our community. Taking care of your teams is our priority. Contact now to ask about how to get Workplace Influenza Vaccinations started. Our Mobile Health Team can even come to your workplace.

Here’s how we can help with your employee Flu Vaccinations programme (in our clinic or onsite at your business)

Our Highbrook Medical staff have already built strong relationships with our new partner companies within the business park. We’ve delivered onsite services to the likes of Fisher and Paykel Healthcare, and Greenmount Interiors. Many teams have already visited our clinic for medical care or workplace assessments. We’re expecting the Auckland Flu jab season to kick off soon, so schedule in with our team soon. 

The benefits include:

• Convenience: Being onsite in our South Auckland clinic means that your employees can pop in for their flu jab and require minimum time off-premises. Our friendly nurses will explain the vaccination process, answer any questions, then get consent. Alternatively, our experienced nurses can come to your workplace to offer flu vaccination clinics at times that are convenient for your teams. 
• Protecting staff: Offering workplace vaccinations helps employees feel that their employer supports their well-being.  
• Reassuring workers: Everyone has questions: Why do I need a flu shot? Is it safe? Are there side effects? Our friendly nurses will offer support and answer any questions. Also, if you need us to supply further educational information to set your employees’ minds at rest, let us know.
• Safety:  Because the flu virus changes each year, we need annual vaccinations. Vaccines are updated to include the strains which will most likely be found in NZ. Development of the vaccine is then carried out following the World Health Organisation (WHO) advice to our New Zealand Immunization Advisory Centre.

Why an onsite Employee flu vaccination programme is cost-effective for your businesses

For your part, introducing a workplace vaccination programme will be cost-effective for your business. Firstly, being vaccinated reduces the risk of illness, so less sick leave is required. Secondly, if staff come to work when unwell, this can reduce productivity. 

Unavoidably, there will be significant challenges to keep your workplace running and thriving over winter this year. Reducing the spread of all flu-like symptoms will be a more substantial concern than ever in 2023. Now is the time to encourage your staff to take up your offer of a free or sponsored onsite influenza vaccination.

Co-design a workplace package for your employee vaccinations with Highbrook medical, South Auckland

Working out how to package up your employees’ wellbeing offerings is straightforward. Drop us an email to arrange a callback. Together we can help you:

• understand costs of the flu jab to your business,
• discuss funding options
• Work out if the best choice for your business is an onsite flu vaccine campaign or prepaid vouchers for your staff to pop into the Highbrook clinic at a convenient time for both employees and you, the employer.

From early April, our experienced nursing team will be ready and waiting to support your winter flu shot needs onsite in Auckland business places. So let’s work together to protect our community this winter season.