Dr. Steve Goldschmid, David Mogollón and Dr. Tara Carr were among those from the UA Department of Medicine that got their flu shots at the Friday, Sept. 30, clinic in UAHS Plaza. The last UA & state employee flu shot clinic will be Wed., Oct. 12, at UACC North from 2:30-3:30 p.m.
Eligible state employees are able to get free flu shots at multiple sites across the University of Arizona campus, starting tomorrow, Sept. 30, at the Farmers Market in the UA Health Sciences Plaza south of the College of Medicine – Tucson entrance through Wednesday, Oct. 12, at the UA Cancer Center - North Campus.
The shots are being offered from 9 a.m. to noon and 1-2:30 p.m., but check times for your location here.
Information about additional clinics for UA employees, students, Banner Health staff and the public is listed below.
Nearly 500 people got their shots at the Farmers Market flu clinic last year.
“I’m anticipating at least that level of participation or higher,” said Jodi Charvoz, MEd, RD, ACE, a senior program coordinator with the UA Life & Work Connections (LWC) Employee Wellness & Health Promotion. She said it's the same quadrivalent vaccine as last year updated for this flu season.
“We think it’s best to get your flu shot early in the season,” added Charvoz (pictured left in red reviewing a consent form). “The CDC feels the vaccines will better match the circulating viruses, so it will be more effective. They’re recommending only injectable flu shots, not the live-virus vaccine delivered via nasal sprays. There also are new recommendations for people with egg allergies. Those folks will want to refer to the CDC website. It’s too complicated to explain quickly.”
Click here for the CDC's FAQ webpage for this year's flu season.
Friday’s flu shot clinic is offered through LWC and Healthwaves, a statewide network provider for Medicare B (non-HMO), Humana Gold Choice, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, and State of Arizona Benefits Options. The final site in this series of clinics will be Wednesday, Oct. 12, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the north entrance to the Douglass Building.
Most seasonal flu activity happens between October and May with U.S. peaks between December and February, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It’s generally recommended that people get their flu shots by October.
UA & State Employees
At the BIO5 Institute, Oct. 6, Shraddha Tuladhar, a grad student in the Koshy Lab, and Amy Randall-Barber, BIO5 marketing & events manager (2nd & 3rd photos), were among those getting their shots.
Offered as part of the state employee benefits package through LWC and Healthwaves, you'll find eligibility criteria and a schedule of dates, times and locations across campus here. Healthwaves nurses administer flu and other immunization clinics onsite for employer groups that include the state of Arizona. More than a dozen UA flu clinic sites are scheduled through Oct. 12 in Tucson.
Be sure to bring your health insurance card or employee ID number (EIN). Please note, your EIN is NOT your CAT Card number; your EIN can be found on your time sheet in UAccess.
Charvoz encourage people to fill out the 2016 Flu Shot Consent Form in advance. Please download the form at this link.
For those who are not eligible, the shots cost $40.
Arizona Public Flu Clinics
Charvoz said the public is welcome to get their flu shots at the clinic, but that Healthwaves offers a series of other Public Flu Shot Clinics across the state. Click here to view those available through Dec 21 in Pima County.
UA Students & Staff
UA students can get flu shots at UA Campus Health at 1224 E. Lowell St. during walk-in hours. The cost is $20 for UA students and employees. The cost is covered by the Aetna Student Health Insurance Plan and most other billable insurances. Campus Health also will offer the flu shots at clinics from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the UA Mall on Oct. 17 and 20 and Nov. 1 and 2. For details, check the Campus Health website.
Banner – UMC Staff & Physicians
At Banner – University Medical Center Tucson and South, Banner staff can get free flu shots. Those eligible: Banner MDs (physicians and residents), UA MDs and medical students (on rotation at a Banner facility), Banner employees and Banner volunteers. The next available dates are:
- Monday, Oct. 3, 10 a.m.-8 p.m., DuVal Auditorium
- Monday, Oct. 24, 10 a.m.-8 p.m., DuVal Auditorium
For a full schedule of available Banner flu shot clinics, consult the Banner intranet (see the Banner Flu Resources intranet webpage – must be on Banner computer to view), your email. Banner Employee Health in Tucson also offers flu shots weekdays 7:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. at Banner - University Medical Center Tucson.
All physicians, staff, volunteers and medical students on rotation are required to receive a flu vaccine or submit an approved medical or religious exemption by Dec. 5, 2016 (exemption forms are available at the above link). To get the shot, you must either have a Banner ID or, for UA physicians, residents and medical students, provide the last four digits of your Social Security number. Banner flu shot clinics are not open to the public.
More Flu Info
For additional flu shot clinics across the state and clinics located by county, visit:
http://www.healthwaves.com/Healthwaves/Public_Flu_Clinics.html
http://benefitoptions.az.gov/wellness/wellness%20flu%20schedule.html#Pima
For more information about the flu, check out the links below. These present an overview of what to do to decrease your chances of illness and how to minimize the symptoms if you do get sick.
* Facts about the Flu (CDC)
* More Facts About the Flu (U.S. National Library of Medicine)
* Wash Your Hands (A poster to share with your office)
ORIGINALLY POSTED: Sept. 29, 2016
UPDATED: Oct. 4 & 6, 2016