title: Universal paid leave increases influenza vaccinations among employees in the U.S.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We predict the impact of paid leave in increasing influenza vaccinations for employees, thus decreasing workdays lost and healthcare visits resulting from infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nationally representative data from the 2006-2010 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey were used. We examined working adults aged 18 and above (N=51,471). Logistic regression measured the association of paid leave with flu vaccination. We predicted the impact on labor and healthcare markets if universal paid leave were provided.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The proportion of workers receiving vaccination annually was higher for those with paid leave versus without paid leave (34.0% vs. 21.0%, P<0.001). Adjusted odds of having a vaccination increased with paid leave vs. without paid leave (OR=1.42, CI: 1.31-1.53). Universal paid leave is predicted to increase vaccinations by 1.6 million, resulting in 63.8 thousand fewer absences from work and 18.2 thousand fewer healthcare visits for the flu annually.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study suggests that employees without paid leave are significantly less likely to have had a flu vaccination. Expanding paid leave could substantially increase flu vaccination, resulting in fewer workdays lost to influenza and savings in healthcare costs.
authors.affiliation: College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 984350 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-4350, USA. Electronic address: fernando.wilson@unmc.edu.
authors.forename: Fernando A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.affiliation: College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 984350 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-4350, USA.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 984350 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-4350, USA.
authors.forename: Jim P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Stimpson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States; D014611:Vaccination / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines
keywords: Influenza; Sick leave; Vaccination