UCSF Makes Flu Shots Available to Campus Community

UCSF will provide free flu shots to all employees, students and volunteers with UCSF identification badges at drop-in clinics at 10 locations from Monday, October 4 to Monday, November 1.

“As we approach this year’s flu season, I want to remind you of the importance of vaccination in preventing the spread of influenza and protecting our patients,” says Josh Adler, MD, chief medical officer at UCSF Medical Center. “Last year, a record number of employees were vaccinated against both seasonal and H1N1 influenza and that likely contributed to a very low rate of flu transmission within our hospitals and clinics. Thank you for your participation.”

The entire flu vaccination schedule is posted online [PDF].
UCSF’s flu shot policy requires that all medical center employees, UCSF faculty and housestaff be vaccinated. Only one flu vaccine will be required for adults this year and that vaccine will include three flu antigens, including one derived from the H1N1 virus. 

As required by state law, anyone who does not want a flu shot, must decline and wear a hospital-supplied mask while in areas where patients are seen, evaluated and treated.  Please see the following policy for more information [PDF]..

Flu Season Around the Corner

Influenza can be a serious respiratory disease, especially for people with chronic illnesses. In California, the flu season generally begins in late December or early January and continues through February or March.

Nationwide, about 36,000 people die from flu-related conditions every year. The virus can be transmitted up to 24 hours before symptoms appear and some people experience no symptoms at all, increasing the risk of transmission.

UCSF employees who get a flu shot will receive a new green dot for their identification badge. Everyone should remove last season’s colored dots from their UCSF badges.

Employees who received a vaccination outside of UCSF must bring documentation to one of the flu shot clinics or Occupational Health Services (OHS) to receive a sticker. OHS will add this documentation to employees’ electronic health records. 

Medical Center employees with questions regarding the seasonal flu can send them to Occupational Health .

For information about the flu shot program, please contact Occupational Health at 415/885-7580 .

For more information about the flu vaccine and US Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations, please see the CDC website.