How Might the 2012-2013 Flu Season Affect Your Workplace?

What sort of flu season is expected this year?

Flu seasons are unpredictable in a number of ways, says CDC. Although epidemics of flu happen every year, the timing, severity, and length of the epidemic depends on many factors, including what influenza viruses are spreading, whether they match the viruses in the vaccine, and how many people get the vaccine.

When will flu activity begin and when will it peak?

The timing of flu is very unpredictable and can vary from season to season. Flu activity most commonly peaks in the United States in January or February. However, seasonal flu activity can begin as early as October and continue to occur as late as May. CDC says that it is not possible to predict how mild or severe the 2012-2013 season will be.

Will new flu viruses circulate this season?

Flu viruses are constantly changing so it’s not unusual for new flu viruses to appear each year.

What should you and your employees do to prepare for flu season?

The most important thing anyone can do to prepare for flu season is to get a flu shot. CDC recommends that everyone 6 months and older get a flu shot each year.

---

All the safety training you need in one program: 25 subjects, one low price. It’s BLR’s Safety Training Presentations. Try it out and get a Free Special Report. Get the details.

---

When should people get vaccinated?

CDC recommends that people get vaccinated against influenza as soon as 2012-2013 flu season vaccine becomes available in their community (which it probably already is). It takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body and provide protection against the flu.

Why do employees need a flu shot every year?

A flu shot is needed every year because flu viruses are constantly changing. As we said earlier, it’s not unusual for new flu viruses to appear each year. The flu vaccine is formulated each year to keep up with the flu viruses as they change. Also, studies conducted over different seasons and across vaccine types and influenza virus subtypes have shown that the body’s immunity to influenza viruses (acquired either through natural infection or vaccination) declines over time. Getting vaccinated each year provides the best protection against influenza throughout flu season.

Which types of virus will the vaccine produced this year protect against?

CDC says that the 2012-2013 influenza vaccine is made from the following three viruses:

• A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus
• A/Victoria/361/2011 (H3N2)-like virus
• B/Wisconsin/1/2010-like virus (from the B/Yamagata lineage of viruses)

While the H1N1 virus is the same as the 2011-2012 recommendation, the recommended influenza H3N2 and B vaccine viruses are different from those recommended for the Northern Hemisphere for the 2011-2012 influenza vaccine.

---

Try Safety Training Presentations at no cost and no risk. For a limited time, also get a Free Special Report! Find out more.

---

Will this season’s vaccine be a good match for circulating viruses?

It’s impossible to predict with certainty which flu viruses will predominate during a given season. Flu viruses are constantly changing (called “antigenic drift”). They can change from one season to the next or they can even change within the course of one flu season. Experts must pick which viruses to include in the vaccine many months in advance in order for vaccine to be produced and delivered on time.  

Can the vaccine provide protection even if the vaccine is not a good match?

Yes, says CDC. Antibodies made in response to vaccination with one flu virus can sometimes provide protection against different but related viruses. A less than ideal match may result in reduced vaccine effectiveness against the virus that is different from what is in the vaccine, but it can still provide some protection against influenza illness.

Tomorrow, flu symptoms and prevention.