When it opens Oct. 1, the annual flu shot clinic for university employees will introduce a one-stop, paperless registration process. Employees will check in on an electronic tablet with the nurse who administers the vaccination. Employees still will use their 9-digit university ID number, so they should bring their ISU Card if they haven't memorized their number.
While supplies last, flu shots will be dispensed for 10 days: Monday through Friday, Oct. 1-12 (9 a.m.-4 p.m. daily), in 205 Technical and Administrative Services Facility. No appointment is needed. Staff in occupational medicine again will administer flu shots for ISU WellBeing, university human resources.
The vaccine is provided at no cost for these employee groups:
- Faculty, professional and scientific, and merit
- Postdocs
- ISU Foundation
- Iowa State Daily benefits-eligible staff
- Retirees on the ISU health plan who are not yet 65 years old
Employees participating in ISU WellBeing's Adventure2 challenge, which launches on Sept. 24, can score points for getting a flu vaccination.
If possible, employees should wear a short-sleeve or loose-fitting shirt on the day of their flu shot to give the nurse easier access to an upper arm. Visitor parking is limited at the clinic, so walking or biking is recommended.
Spouses and children of employees aren't eligible to receive flu shots through this clinic. ISU students and visiting scholars should contact the Thielen Student Health Center for vaccination information.
The vaccine
Employees who participate in the flu shot clinic will receive a quadrivalent (four components) vaccine that protects against A and B flu virus strains. The four viruses it contains are:
- A (H1N1)
- A (H3N2), updated
- B (Victoria lineage)
- B (Yamagata lineage)
Several alternative forms of the vaccination exist for the 2018-19 flu season, but will not be options at the flu shot clinic. Employees or retirees who prefer one of these are encouraged to contact their primary care physician:
- A spray/mist vaccine administered through the nose
- A high-dose vaccine intended for individuals 65 years and older, who are at greater risk of severe illness from influenza
Regardless of the vaccination received, it takes about two weeks for antibodies that protect against the flu to develop following vaccination.
More information, including a Q&A, is on the ISU WellBeing website, or on the federal Centers for Disease Control influenza Q&A page. Questions may be directed to the UHR service center, 294-4800.
