It’s now been more than five years since the world first faced the COVID-19 pandemic, and many people understandably wonder whether, in 2025, the virus is still something we need to be worried about. While the panic of the early years has passed, COVID-19 has not disappeared. Instead, it has become part of the seasonal health landscape and, much like flu, is still capable of causing disruption, illness and long-term complications if ignored.
For many businesses and schools, understanding the ongoing risks is essential to keeping staff and students healthy, maintaining productivity and minimising costly disruption.
COVID-19 in 2025: Where Things Stand
Whilst COVID-19 is no longer classed as a global emergency, it continues to be prevalent. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), new variants are being monitored every year, and we are still seeing spikes in infection, especially in the colder months when people spend more time indoors.
Fortunately, for most healthy individuals, symptoms are now milder compared with cases early in the pandemic. However, vulnerable groups such as older adults, people with chronic health conditions and those with weakened immune systems are still at higher risk of hospitalisation.
And much like flu, the virus also continues to contribute to workplace absenteeism, reduced productivity and disruption to education which can affect day-to-day operations.
Why COVID-19 Remains a Workplace Concern
It would be easy for employers to think of COVID-19 as “over,” but the reality is that it still carries significant implications for business continuity and staff wellbeing.
- Absenteeism: Even mild illness often requires employees to take time off work, creating gaps in staffing.
- Presenteeism: Staff who continue working while unwell may be less productive and risk spreading the virus further.
- Outbreaks: A single infection can quickly affect entire teams in office or factory settings.
- Reputation: Clients, customers and partners increasingly expect organisations to demonstrate responsibility around health and safety.
If we have learnt one lesson from recent years it is this: prevention is far less costly than disruption.
The Role of COVID-19 Vaccination in 2025
Vaccination remains the most effective way to reduce the risk of severe illness and widespread outbreaks. Booster programmes continue to be offered to vulnerable groups, but many organisations are also choosing to take a proactive approach by offering COVID-19 vaccinations in the workplace.
Corporate vaccination programmes offer several advantages:
- Convenience: Staff can receive vaccinations on-site, without the need to arrange external appointments.
- Increased uptake: When vaccines are available at work, employees are more likely to take part.
- Reduced disruption: Fewer staff absences mean greater stability, particularly during winter.
- Employee confidence: Providing vaccinations shows a clear commitment to staff wellbeing.
COVID-19, Flu and Other Seasonal Illnesses
One of the biggest challenges for employers in 2025 is that COVID-19 often overlaps with flu and other respiratory viruses. Together, these illnesses create what is sometimes called a “triple threat” to health services and workplaces.
By integrating COVID-19 and flu vaccinations into a single programme, employers can strengthen their defences against multiple threats at once. This dual approach is becoming increasingly popular among UK businesses seeking to keep disruption to a minimum.
Practical Steps for Employers and Organisations
So, what can businesses and institutions do to manage the ongoing risk of COVID-19?
- Offer Workplace Vaccination: Partner with a trusted provider to make flu and COVID-19 vaccinations easily accessible for staff.
- Encourage Preventative Behaviours: Simple measures like good ventilation, hand hygiene, and flexible sick leave policies still make a difference.
- Monitor Absentee Trends: Keep track of illness-related absence to identify patterns and take timely action.
- Communicate Clearly: Reassure staff by keeping them informed about the health measures your organisation is taking.
To make vaccination easy and effective, many organisations choose to work with specialist providers who can deliver on-site clinics. FluClinic2You offers nationwide workplace vaccination services, including both flu and COVID-19 vaccinations. Their experienced team helps employers reduce absenteeism, safeguard business continuity and demonstrate a strong duty of care to staff.
By tailoring programmes to suit businesses of all sizes, we make it simple to protect your workforce against seasonal illness.
Conclusion: COVID-19 Hasn’t Gone Away
In short, COVID-19 is still a risk in 2025, but it’s a manageable risk. By taking proactive measures, such as offering workplace vaccinations and promoting healthy behaviours, employers and institutions can stay one step ahead.
COVID-19 may no longer dominate headlines, but for organisations that rely on a healthy, reliable workforce, ignoring it could still prove costly.
Book your workplace COVID-19 vaccination programme or contact us to find out more.
