Iowa Health – Des Moines has reconsidered a decision to end its worksite flu vaccination program in Greater Des Moines.

The hospital group notified the Business Record last week of its decision to continue offering the program, following an inquiry by a Business Record reporter about the change.

In April, Iowa Health notified businesses throughout Greater Des Moines, among them Business Publications Corp. Inc., publisher of the Business Record, that it would discontinue the on-site clinics. “Due to a marked increase in competition for these services in Des Moines, it is no longer financially feasible for us to continue,” according to an April 25 letter that Iowa Health sent to the companies.

During the previous flu season, from October 2010 through April 2011, Iowa Health provided approximately 4,500 flu shots to employees at about 100 Greater Des Moines worksites.

“Over the last few years, flu shots have become a lot more readily available,” said Steve Krob, marketing and sales coordinator for Iowa Methodist Occupational Health and Wellness Department, which administers the program. “So the feeling was the convenience factor wasn’t as great an issue, and perhaps there wasn’t as much of a need for us to be there anymore.”

Krob said the number of employers accessing the service hadn’t decreased significantly, but the number of workers at each site using it has. However, after further consideration, he said, “the thought was, if we even have a handful of people who need flu shots on-site, we’ll do it.”

Participating employers pay Iowa Health to provide the on-site program on a fee-for-service basis.

A spokesman for Mercy Medical Center – Des Moines, which also offers worksite flu vaccinations, said it has no plans to discontinue its program.