You are our most important asset. We rely on you to keep your location running smoothly by serving your customers.

To provide premier service, you must feel well and be healthy. An important part of that is getting your annual flu vaccine.

Since you interact with so many customers and co-workers daily, it’s easy to share germs. So it’s important you take every precaution possible to prevent sickness — wash your hands often, have good sanitation habits, eat right, exercise regularly and get enough sleep. One habit that has been proven effective time and time again is getting the flu vaccine.

Sometimes I hear associates say they don’t like needles or shots, so they don’t want to get the vaccine. Few things are worse than having the flu — it often means you can’t even get out of bed for at least a week. It affects every part of your life.

A free flu vaccine is the best defense Publix can offer to help prevent you from catching the flu and spreading it to your family.

Our pharmacists receive special training on administering vaccines, so it really is virtually painless, and unlike popular myths, you can’t get the flu from the vaccine.

But beyond the ease of it, what makes this benefit even better is that it’s free. Publix recognizes how important it is to make sure associates are healthy. See the “Health insurance reform impacts everyone” article.

I hope this year you all join me in getting vaccinated against the flu. Don’t get the flu. Don’t give the flu. Get vaccinated with a free flu shot.