The annual University of Alabama flu shot campaign, an effort by UA to protect students, faculty and staff from the flu, kicks off in September and continues through early November with free flu shots provided at locations across campus, including the Quad, university buildings and student residence halls.
The goal of the flu shot campaign, which is led by UA’s College of Community Health Sciences and now in its sixth year, is to make getting a flu shot as easy and convenient as possible. The shots are free and no insurance is required, although students and employees will need to provide their Campus Wide Identification.
Last year, more than 8,000 vaccinations were given.
The shots will be administered by nurses from University Medical Center, which CCHS operates, and the University’s Student Health Center and Capstone College of Nursing. WellBAMA and UA’s Division of Financial Affairs are also partners in the flu shot campaign.
Spouses of employees can receive the free flu vaccines at the campus flu shot stations or at the Faculty-Staff Clinic in University Medical Center, and insurance is not required. Children of employees with UA health insurance can receive flu vaccinations at University Medical Center, and children of employees with non-UA health insurance can receive flu shots at the Faculty-Staff Clinic if their insurance has previously approved nurse practitioner coverage.
In addition to the campus flu shot stations, flu shots will also be provided at University Medical Center and its Faculty-Staff Clinic.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends everyone aged six months and older get a flu shot annually. According to the CDC, a flu vaccine is needed every year because flu viruses are constantly changing and it is not unusual for new viruses to appear. The flu vaccine is formulated each year to keep up with the flu viruses as they change.
Dr. Richard Streiffer, dean of CCHS and a family medicine physician, said flu, or influenza, is not just a bad cold but can present a serious threat to many people. While the risk for severe illness is highest for children, the elderly and those with chronic medical conditions, even healthy people who get sick can miss up to two weeks of work, and may experience serious complications and even require hospitalization.
“You want to take every opportunity to protect yourself, as we do know that flu shots work to lower the risk of getting influenza,” Streiffer said. “If we can vaccinate enough people in the community and especially at and around the UA campus, and in our families and social circles, we are starting to create a ‘herd immunity,’ which is a more effective way to protect yourself and those around you.”
Risks associated with receiving a flu shot are extremely small, and the viruses in the flu shot are inactivated so they cannot cause the flu, according to the CDC. For more information, visit http://cchs.ua.edu/flu.
Flu shots are scheduled at the following locations, and additional dates and locations are expected to be added:
| Date | Location | Time |
|---|---|---|
| September 7, Thursday | North Lawn Classroom Building | 9 am to 4 pm |
| September 12, Tuesday | Russell Hall | 7:30 am to 11 am |
| September 13, Wednesday | Student Health Fair, Ferguson Student Center | 9 am to 4 pm |
| September 13, Wednesday | Quad in Motion, Quad | 8 am to 4 pm |
| September 14, Thursday | Tutwiler | 9 am to 4 pm |
| September 18, Monday | Capstone College of Nursing | 10 am to 1 pm |
| September 19, Tuesday | Law School | 7:30 am to 11 am |
| September 21, Thursday | Quad, Northeast Corner (across from Smith Hall) | 9 am to 4 pm |
| September 26, Tuesday | Procurement | 7:30 am to 11 am |
| September 27, Wednesday | Quad, Northeast Corner (across from Smith Hall) | 9 am to 4 pm |
| September 28, Thursday | Presidential Two | 1 pm to 4 pm |
| September 28, Thursday | Presidential One | 9 am to noon |
| October 4, Wednesday | UA Employee Health Fair, Coleman Coliseum | 6:30 am to 4 pm |
| October 10, Tuesday | Systems Office | 7 am to 10 am |
| October 12, Thursday | Paty Hall | 9 am to noon |
| October 17, Tuesday | Reese Phifer Hall | 7:30 am to 11 am |
| October 18, Wednesday | Quad, Southwest corner (across from Graves Hall) | 9 am to 4 pm |
| October 24, Tuesday | Ferguson Center | 7:30 am to 11 am |
| November 1, Wednesday | Ridgecrest South | 9 am to 4 pm |
| November 1, Wednesday | UAPD | 7:30 am to 10 am |
| November 7, Tuesday | Gorgas Library | 7:45 am to 11 am |
| November 8, Wednesday | Mary Burke Hall | 9 am to 4 pm |
| November 9, Thursday | Quad, Southeast corner (across from Gallalee Hall) | 9 am to 4 pm |