The Impact of a Severe Flu Season: Americans Missed 230 Million Work Days and Lost $8.5 Billion in Wages in 2012-13, Walgreens Flu Impact Report Suggests

Survey finds 11 million vacations impacted and 91 million school days missed during last flu season, triple the number during typical season

A new report from Walgreens (NYSE:WAG) (Nasdaq:WAG) suggests U.S. adults missed 230 million work days last season, while children lost more than 90 million school days due to flu-related illness. By contrast, 100 million work days and 32 million school days were missed in 2010-11, according to the Walgreens Flu Impact Report.

Flu activity last season peaked in December 2012, coinciding with the winter holidays and resulting in more than 11 million vacations interrupted or canceled as a result of the flu, a 300 percent increase over 2011, based on survey results.

“The flu season is always unpredictable, and the impact it can have on individuals and families at home and in the workplace can be significant,” said Harry Leider, M.D., Walgreens chief medical officer. “Last year, with flu peaking early, a lot of people weren’t prepared and as a result lost vacations and missed out on holidays. This underscores the importance of getting a flu shot early, and our report shows more people are planning to do so, along with taking other preventive measures this year.”

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