As open enrollment season approaches, so too does flu season. And while flu activity generally peaks in January or February, seasonal flu activity can begin as early as October. For the 2012-2013 season, manufacturers have projected they will produce between 146 million and 149 million doses of the flu vaccine, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which recommends that everyone aged six months and older get an annual flu shot.
A recent study published by Walgreens, which looked at the cost benefits of various vaccination strategies for employers, found that in a typical U.S. population, an influenza immunization program will be cost beneficial for employers when more than 37% of individuals receive the vaccine in a non-traditional setting, such as a pharmacy, as opposed to a physician’s office.
