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Spring is just around the corner, which means (perhaps) we're exiting another flu season. It also makes this a perfect time to look back and ask: How much does influenza cost U.S. businesses?

The CDC Foundation looks at the question as part of its latest edition of Business Pulse. As background, the CDC Foundation was “established by Congress as an independent, nonprofit organization, the CDC Foundation connects the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with private-sector organizations and individuals to build public health programs that make our world healthier and safer.”

The Business Pulse infographic states: “While an annual flu vaccine is the best way to prevent influenza, three out of every five people in the United States report not being vaccinated. The impact of flu on workplace health and productivity is substantial. American businesses, employees and communities can help CDC prevent and control the flu by promoting annual flu vaccination.”

Further: “Flu’s annual impact on the U.S. economy includes more than $87 billion and 17 million lost workdays.”

And it's clear that the CDC sees flu prevention as something a workplace can — and should — help address.

According to Dr. Dan Jernigan, Director of CDC’s Influenza Division, “CDC recommends annual flu vaccination as the first and best way to prevent flu. Employers and supervisors can lead by example, by getting vaccinated themselves and encouraging their staff to do the same. Other practical ways to promote vaccination are to educate employees about the consequences of flu and the benefits of the flu vaccine through in-house communications tools like newsletters and emails.”

Dr. Jernigan continues: “CDC research has shown that many people don’t understand the serious consequences that flu can have—they don’t perceive influenza as being serious, or they don’t want to get vaccinated because they have misconceptions about the vaccine itself. Sometimes just providing information can lower barriers to vaccination. Another way to increase vaccination among employees is to offer access to free or low-cost on-site vaccination to employees. These kinds of actions can encourage more employees to get vaccinated.”

This image from the Business Pulse infographic helps tell the story: