Each winter, the flu virus re-emerges and spreads. This viral infection causes annual worker absenteeism to peak. But just one shot can protect your employees from the flu.

• Every year, 5 to 15% of employees in Belgium have to deal with the flu for an average of 3 to 6 days a week. A vaccine reduces the risk of flu by 80%.
• Those who still get the flu after receiving the vaccination will recover more quickly and have a reduced risk of complications.

1. Practical details
2. Ordering the vaccines
3. Billing
4. Questions
 

The government is introducing a phased approach for its flu vaccine campaign. Up to the end of November, the following at-risk groups will get absolute priority:

• all pregnant women, regardless of the stage of pregnancy
• people over the age of 65*
• people with an underlying chronic condition, even if stable, of the lungs (including severe asthma), the heart (excluding hypertension), the liver or the kidneys, people with metabolic disorders (including diabetes), people with a BMI over 35 and people with neuromuscular conditions or immunity disorders (natural or induced)*
• healthcare professionals.

* People sharing a home with someone in these at-risk groups will also be given priority, as will anyone living with children under the age of 6 months.

Therefore, initially, vaccines will only be distributed for these groups. In practice, we will start the vaccinations for these groups from 15 October.

At the end of November, the government will assess the vaccination coverage of this at-risk group. Subsequently, if possible, people between 50 and 65 who are not part of the first at-risk group will be able to get a vaccine. Until such time, this latter group will not be able to get a vaccine. No exceptions will be granted.

The second phase, which was intended for the rest of the population (under 50) and which was set to get underway on 15 November, will be cancelled.

If you are not part of the healthcare sector, Mensura will have no option but to cancel the scheduled vaccinations at your company from Wednesday 4 November onward. You will be notified of this directly by e-mail or by telephone.

We will set up a separate procedure for any employees at your company who fall under the priority at-risk group. We will communicate this procedure as soon as possible by e-mail or by telephone. This year, Mensura will only invoice for vaccines that have effectively been administered.

Preparation and practical organisation

In order to identify the employees to be vaccinated as a priority, we ask you to provide us with lists of names of eligible employees who wish to be vaccinated. Please use this document only.

Of course, it is of the utmost importance that you call on all at-risk groups to be vaccinated.

Please note: as an employer, you may only raise awareness and ask employees to come forward as a patient at risk voluntarily. Furthermore, the occupational physician is unable to provide lists due to the confidentiality of medical information.

So that we are able to order vaccinations for the priority group as correctly as possible, we need to receive your list of names by Friday, 18 September, at the latest. If we receive a list of names after this date or do not receive any list of names, vaccinations for your employees will only be possible in the second wave, starting on 15 November!

Please send your list of names to the flu officer in your region (contact details below). We will then contact you to make concrete practical arrangements. Small numbers of people at risk will be invited to a doctor’s office. If you wish to have 20 or more employees vaccinated on the same day, we can come to your company for on-site administration.

We will make concrete agreements later for the other employees in your organisation who wish to be vaccinated.

What if you placed an order earlier this year?

We subscribe to the government’s prioritisation rules and are obliged to adapt our procedures accordingly. The at-risk groups in your company can be guaranteed vaccinated. For the other employees, we have to wait and see how many vaccines are still available after the first vaccination round. We count on your understanding in these exceptional circumstances.

You can read more about invoicing under point 3.

Flu vaccine: flu vaccines can no longer be ordered via MyMensura. A waiting list has been created for orders via mail.

Are you a member of Mensura EDPP?

Then you can easily place your order for flu vaccines via our client zone MyMensura. If you are using MyMensura for the first time, then you can request your account on the login screen.

There are three options to choose from:

Not yet a member of Mensura EDPP?

Click here to order your vaccines.

If there is no shortage for your organisation, we invoice on the basis of the number of vaccines you order. If the priority rules for priority target groups result in partial delivery of the vaccines ordered, you will only pay for the vaccines delivered.

Flu vaccine: flu vaccines can no longer be ordered via MyMensura. A waiting list has been created for orders via mail.

Do you have any other questions? Then contact the flu officer in your area.

Region Brussels and Flemish Brabant: 02 549 70 85 - brussel@mensura.be
Region Antwerp: 03 201 55 29 - antwerpen@mensura.be 
Region Limburg: 011 30 27 61 - planning.limburg@mensura.be
Region East Flanders: 09 244 45 90 - gent@mensura.be
Region West Flanders: 09 244 45 90 - brugge@mensura.be
Region Wallonia North: 071 73 34 10 - gosselies@mensura.be
Region Wallonia South: 061 27 57 57 - wallonie@mensura.be

Read also:
BLOG - 10 common myths about the flu virus
POSTER - Need help get a grip on the flu?
INFOGRAPHIC - Flu vaccination in the workplace more than pays for itself