If you are a federal employee, the Office of Personnel Management and the Department of Health and Human Services want you to take time to get a flu shot this year.
Acting OPM director Elaine Kaplan and HHS secretary Kathleen Sebelius said in a recent memo that a flu shot is the best protection against the flu virus and that keeping the federal workforce healthy is a top priority.
“It is vital to foster a workplace environment that encourages our employees to stay home when they are sick to limit transmission of influenza and other illnesses this season,” said the memo.
It also noted that there is generally no out of pocket cost to the employee to get a flu shot:
Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, most Americans with private health insurance and those with Medicare can get vaccinated against the flu and other serious illnesses with no out-of-pocket cost. Employees and their families enrolled in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program can also be immunized through their health plans at no out-of-pocket cost. Many health plans make flu vaccine available in pharmacies and other convenient community locations. Federal departments and agencies are also improving access to flu vaccine through their occupational health clinics.
The flu.gov web site offers more information about flu shots and flu prevention.
