This document summarizes a program called FluCube that aims to reduce flu absenteeism in workplaces over 100% through three key methods: increasing flu awareness during peak season, promoting early medical intervention within 24 hours of symptoms, and preventing flu spread. Traditional flu shot programs alone typically only save 20% of expected sick days. The FluCube program provides online doctor access, discounts, and interactive materials to employees to promote these goals at a cost of $14.95-$19.95 per employee.

1. iamtheflu.com
CONFESSIONS
of a flu vaccination program
A Skin Patrol Investigation
• Discover the truth about flu vaccine effectiveness
• Top three ways to further reduce flu absenteeism by over 100%
Published 15 Feb 2015
Skin Patrol Pty Ltd
iamtheflu.com

2. It is a common misconception that flu vaccination clinics are the best and only way
to reduce flu related absenteeism. With the northern hemisphere having a higher
than average incidence of the flu and a lower than average vaccine effectiveness1
it
is important to understand what can be done this winter to better fight the effects
of the flu on your organisation. This report highlights some important facts about
traditional flu program effectiveness and provides a solution for improving flu
awareness and early intervention to reduce absenteeism.
A typical flu vaccination program could only save as little
as 8 out of an expected 48 days of sick leave per 100
employees; that’s less than 20%. That could still generate a
positive return on investment, but you could further reduce
the number of sick days taken by over 100%
“In healthy adults, flu vaccines have only
a modest effect in reducing flu symptoms
and working days lost”
“When initiated promptly, antiviral
therapy can reduce the duration of
symptoms by 1-3 days when administered
within the first 24-30 hours”2
RAGCP Clinical Guidelines
Flu programs: How effective are they?
Flu programs are likely to save only 20% of expected sick days

3. Key workplace flu program facts:
The flu awareness gap
Most Flu programs are delivered 3 months before the peak of flu season,
resulting in low early intervention and high presenteeism.
Modest effect on working days lost
In healthy adults, vaccines have only a modest effect in reducing flu
symptoms and working days lost
No early intervention solutions
When initiated promptly, anti-viral therapy available from your GP can reduce
the duration of symptoms by 1-3 days when administered in the first 24-36
hours2
Low uptake
Uptake of flu vaccinations at work and in the broader community is low,
typically less than 30% in people under the age of 50
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
Flu shot uptake
Flu incidence
Sources: Newspoll Omnibus and
Google flu trends Australia
Flu awareness gap
The flu awareness gap
As illustrated in the graph below, flu vaccinations are run between the months
of March and May but peak flu season does not occur until 3-4 months later.
As a result, flu symptom awareness and early intervention guidance is not
prevalent when it is most needed. This is likely to lead to high presenteeism
and a low number of staff seeing a GP within 24-30 hours of flu symptoms
onset.

4. Take up of the flu vaccine among people under the age of 50 is
low and even free workplace flu programs struggle to achieve
greater than 30% participation.
The truth about flu vaccine uptake
73%46%29%23%24%39%
65+50-6435-4925-3418-24All adults
Australian adults who had a flu shot in 2014
Source: Newspoll Omnibus
1. People believing they are healthy/ don’t need one
2. Inconvenience of getting a shot/ forgetting to get one in time
3. A view that vaccinations don’t work
4. A dislike of needles
5. A misconception the vaccine can give you the flu
The 5 top reasons people don’t get a flu shot3
These reasons are consistent over many years and make it
unlikely that your staff uptake will be above 39% this flu season

5. Why flu vaccines are NOT 100% effective!
How well the flu vaccine works (or its ability to prevent flu illness) can range
widely from season to season. The vaccine’s effectiveness also can vary
depending on who is being vaccinated. At least two factors play an important role
in determining the likelihood that flu vaccine will protect a person from flu illness:
1) characteristics of the person being vaccinated (such as their age and health),
and 2) the similarity or “match” between the flu viruses the flu vaccine is designed
to protect against and the flu viruses spreading in the community.
During years when the flu vaccine is not well matched to circulating viruses, it’s
possible that no benefit from flu vaccination may be observed. During years when
there is a good match between the flu vaccine and circulating viruses, it’s possible
to measure substantial benefits from vaccination in terms of preventing flu illness
(60-80%). However, even during years when the vaccine match is very good, the
benefits of vaccination will vary across the population, depending on character-
istics of the person being vaccinated and even, potentially, which vaccine was
used.4
From a return on investment perspective, running a workplace flu
program is still worthwhile but there is much more that you can do to
potentially save more lost days of productivity due to the flu this winter.
The truth about flu vaccine effectiveness
As well as offering flu shots, or at least
encouraging them, you should ensure staff
understand:
• How to best prevent the flu and stop spreading it (through good
hygiene practices)
• The early warning symptoms of the flu
• The importance of early intervention by seeing a GP within 24-30
hours of flu symptom onset

6. Early Intervention - accessing prescriptions
faster.
When administered within 24-30 hours of
flu symptom onset, antiviral medication can
reduce the duration of flu symptoms by 1-3
days. The Desktop FluCube™ and FluPad™ not
only provide a visual reminder to seek medical
treatment quickly, they connect staff to a panel
of online doctors who can prescribe appropriate
medication for immediate pick-up in your local
pharmacy.
The cube fits over standard tissue boxes
available through major office supply providers
Prevention - reducing the spread of flu and
presenteeism
A contagion spread by a single ill worker can
impose health costs on your company which
can be several times higher than the direct
costs of absenteeism of the specific workers5
.
Our new flu website - www.iamtheflu.com
provides staff with information and videos
about prevention, guides for minimising
the spread of the virus and appropriate care
pathways for getting fast, early intervention.
Interactive NFC posters
Interactive NFC (near field communication)
enabled posters featuring Tapit™ technology
provide highly visible and engaging content
during peak flu season. Staff can tap or scan
their phone on the posters and be connected
through to the iamtheflu website for more
information and early intervention pathways.
Introducing the FluCube™ Program
Combat workplace flu like never before
The FluCube™ Program promotes prevention, awareness and early
intervention - helping you reduce flu related absenteeism.
Early intervention helps staff get better faster
High awareness during peak flu season.
Fast access to online doctors and prescriptions

7. Pre-order your FluCube™ prevention & early
intervention program in March and save 25%.
• Your choice of a interactive Flucube™ or FluPad™ for every staff member
• A $15 dollar voucher for every staff member for an online GP consultation (valid to
December 31 for any consultation)
• Access to discount flu shots through Chemmart Chemist for every staff member
• Fortnighly flu update emails for distribution to staff
• FluCube™ program rollout materials
• 10 A3 interactive NFC posters for every 100 staff
• For every 100 staff it’s likely you will have 12 people get the flu each season
• A standard flu vaccination program is likely to only save 8 out of an expected 48
days sick leave (per 100 staff)
• Through better timed education and early intervention we estimate you could save
up to 25% sick leave from the unvaccinated staff (and those for whom the vaccine
didn’t work)
• Potential sick days saved from a flu vaccination clinic (per 100 staff) = 8
• Potential BONUS sick days saved from FluCube™ Program (per 100 staff) = 10
The FluCube™ program includes
How you can justify investing in the FluCube program
Program Cost: $19.95 per staff member
Pre-order by March 31 for a 25% discount - $14.95 per staff member
For more information contact info@iamtheflu.com
or the Skin Patrol team on 1800 103 704
Note: Posters will be distributed in the second week of April, FluCubes™ and FluPads™ will be
distributed in the second week of May.

8. Date & Time (Local) Cost) Book
Book
Book
Book
Book
Book
Book
Book
Book
Book
Book
Book
Book
Book
Book
Book
01/01 09:20 am (thu) $69
01/01 09:40 am (thu) $69
01/01 10:00 am (thu) $49
01/01 10:15 am (thu) $49
01/01 10:30 am (thu) $49
01/01 10:45 am (thu) $49
01/01 11:00 am (thu) $49
01/01 11:15 am (thu) $49
01/01 11:30 am (thu) $49
01/01 11:45 am (thu) $49
01/01 12:00 pm (thu) $69
01/01 12:20 pm (thu) $69
01/01 12:40 pm (thu) $69
01/01 01:20 pm (thu) $69
01/01 01:00 pm (thu) $69
New flu portal drives awareness, prevention & early detection
$15 dollar discount on all Online GP Appointments
Promotional toolsPhone/ tablet ready
Innovative NFC technology Easy connectivity
Highly visible
Your comprehensive flu package

9. iamtheflu.com
In
DESCRIPTION UNITS AMOUNTUNIT PRICE
Per person package includes
$15 dollar discount voucher for online GP consult
Access to iamtheflu website
Access to discount flu shots through Chemmart Chemists
Your choice of NFC enabled FluCube™ or mousepad
1 A3 sized NFC poster for every 10 units
Subtotal
10% GST
Total
$14.95*
PURCHASE ORDER
1800 103 704 08 8352 2665 info@iamtheflu.com
www.iamtheflu.com
COMPANY NAME
DATE
*25% discount for all orders submitted before March 31st
PAYMENT DETAILS
VISA MASTERCARD
NAME ON CARD
PHONE NUMBER EMAIL
ADDRESS
CITY STATE POSTCODE
CARD NUMBER
AMOUNT TO CHARGE
SIGNATURE DATE
SHIPPING ADDRESS
SAME AS BILLING ADDRESS
SEND INVOICE/ PURCHASE ORDER
$19.95*

10. References
1. Wed MD - http://www.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/news/20141204/this-years-flu-
vaccine-less-effective-than-hoped
2. RACGP Clinical Guidelines, Influenza - http://www.racgp.org.au/your-practice/
guidelines/national-guide/respiratory-health/influenza-prevention/
3. Newspoll Omnibus Survey, June 2014. Summary Report Flu Vaccinations. Newspoll
Ref 140604 - http://www.immunise.health.gov.au/internet/immunise/publishing.
nsf/Content/5F19ABF49157CDA4CA257C230009F09E/$File/summ- report-flu-
vaccinations-survey2014.pdf
4. Medibank Health Solutions: The costs of presenteeism to your business & the
economy, July 2011 - http://www.medibank.com.au/client/Documents/Pdfs/sick_at_
work.pdf
5. US Centre for Disease Control - http://www.cdc.gov/flu/