National Influenza Vaccination Week: Provider Campaign Guide
Key Facts:
- CDC estimates the 2023-24 U.S. flu season caused roughly 35 million illnesses, 390 000 hospitalizations and 21 000 deaths.
- Only 47% of U.S. adults received a flu shot during the 2023-24 season; coverage was lowest among Black and Hispanic adults.
- Peak flu-associated absenteeism costs employers >$10 billion in lost productivity each season.
- Vaccination within two weeks still provides meaningful protection for the remainder of flu season through May.
Editor's Note
This article is part of the BHM Healthcare Awareness Series, designed to provide quick, ready-to-use content and links to official resources for internal staff communications, patient education, and social media.
Feel free to copy, adapt, and share.
Observation Date
December 8 – 14
History & Impact
Established by the CDC in 2005, National Influenza Vaccination Week (NIVW) was created to remind the public (and the healthcare community) that flu season typically extends through spring and vaccination remains the most effective preventive measure. Health systems, pharmacies, public-health agencies, and community partners now use the week to hold late-season flu clinics, launch multilingual media campaigns, and reinforce workplace immunization policies.
Why it Matters
Seasonal influenza leads to tens of millions of illnesses, hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations and tens of thousands of deaths in the United States each year. Maintaining vaccine momentum after the busy fall surge protects vulnerable populations, reduces avoidable admissions and lowers productivity losses that can cost employers billions annually.
Quick Actions for Your Organization
For Leadership
Add influenza vaccination metrics to enterprise quality dashboards and workforce safety KPIs.
Negotiate on-site or mobile flu-shot clinics with local pharmacies or public-health partners.
Offer paid time or incentives for employees who document vaccination, especially in high-risk departments.
For Implementation Teams
Use CDC NIVW social graphics in intranet banners, break-room screens, and patient portals.
Schedule walk-up vaccine hours and send SMS/e-mail reminders with appointment links.
Track daily doses administered and share progress league-table style to foster friendly competition among units or locations.
Resources
Ready-to-Use Assets
The following links provide resources & information for creating internal or external campaigns to support or promote this healthcare observance. Please vet these resources for alignment with your organization.
- CDC Flu Resource Center – CDC Digital Media Toolkit
- National Foundation for Infectious Diseases – Influenza Vaccination Promotion Resources
Talking Points
Copy & Paste Friendly
“It’s not too late! A flu shot today protects you and your patients through spring. #NIVW”
“Flu vaccination lowers hospitalizations by up to 52%—book your clinic slot this week.”
“Protect high-risk coworkers and loved ones: get vaccinated during National Influenza Vaccination Week, Dec 8-14.”
Disclaimer: Please verify all information, usage rights, and related guidelines with the official observance organizers and your organization’s policies to ensure proper alignment.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1. How can we measure the National Influenza Vaccination Week campaign’s success?
Track employee vaccination rates, clinic attendance, and dose-administered counts versus last year. Pair with short pulse surveys on awareness.
Q2. What’s the best way to encourage the participation night-shift or remote staff in a National Influenza Vaccination Week campaign?
Offer off-hour pop-up clinics, partner with retail pharmacies for vouchers, and use SMS or mobile-app push notifications.
Q3. How do we encourage multidisciplinary participation in a National Influenza Vaccination Week campaign?
Recruit physician and nurse champions, include vaccination goals in unit huddles, and share real-time leaderboard results to spark friendly competition.
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