The annual University of Alabama flu shot campaign kicks off Sept. 12 and continues through late November with free flu shots provided at locations across campus, including the Quad, university buildings and student residence halls.
The goal of the campaign, led by UA’s College of Community Health Sciences and now in its seventh 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 campuswide identification number, or CWID.
Vaccination to prevent influenza is particularly important for people who are at high risk of serious complications from influenza. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, persons at high risk for flu-related complications are children younger than 5 years old, but especially children younger than 2 years old, adults 65 years of age and older, pregnant women and women up to two weeks postpartum, and residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.
Herd Immunity
Wyndy Looney, director of nursing at CCHS, says that, with rare exception, the CDC recommends an annual flu vaccine for everyone 6 months of age or older, including pregnant women and individuals with medical conditions.
“Getting vaccinated also protects those around you, including those who are more vulnerable to serious flu illness. For example, babies and young children, older people and people with certain chronic health conditions,” says Looney. “This concept is called community immunity, or herd immunity. When enough people are vaccinated against a certain disease, it is more difficult for germs to easily spread from person to person, meaning everyone becomes less likely to get the disease.”
Vaccination Campaign
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.
In addition to the flu shot stations, students and employees can get vaccinations at any time at the University Medical Center, Faculty Staff-Clinic and Student Health Center. Students will also have opportunities to get a flu shot at residence halls across campus.
Spouses of employees can receive the free flu vaccines at the campus flu shot stations or at the UA 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 UA Faculty-Staff Clinic if their insurance has previously approved nurse practitioner coverage.
Flu Shot Schedule
Flu shots are currently scheduled at the following locations. Visit www.cchs.ua.edu/flushot to view additional locations as they become available.
- Wednesday, Sept. 12: Quad (look for the tent), 9 a.m.–4 p.m.
- Tuesday, Sept. 18: Rose Administration Building (Room G54), 7:30 a.m.–11 a.m.
- Wednesday, Sept. 26: Reese Phifer Hall (Rotunda), 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
- Thursday, Sept. 27: Student Recreation Center, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
- Tuesday, Oct. 2: UA Police Department (2nd Floor Conference Room), 7:30.a.m.–11 a.m.
- Wednesday, Oct. 17: UA employees at Coleman Coliseum, 7:30 a.m.–1 p.m.
- Wednesday, Oct. 31: Gorgas Library (Room 205), 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, Nov. 6: Law School (Basement Hall), 7:30 a.m.–11 a.m.
- Wednesday, Nov. 14: Procurement (Training Room), 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.
- Wednesday, Nov. 28: Ferguson Student Center (Rooms 3103 & 3104), 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.