The UT community has an opportunity to combat cold and flu season by getting an influenza vaccine this fall.
The 2017-18 quadrivalent vaccine contains weakened influenza virus from four strains: A/Michigan, A/Hong Kong (H3N2), B/Brisbane (Victoria lineage) and B/Phuket (B/Yamagata lineage). Flublok trivalent vaccine for those with egg allergy does not include the B/Phuket strain, according to Dr. Susan Batten, UT associate professor of nursing.
“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that everyone older than 6 months of age be vaccinated this year,” Batten said. “The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices is urging all health-care providers to obtain vaccine in order to reduce influenza-related illness and absenteeism, as well as to reduce risk for high-risk patients who trust us for their care.”
Walk-in clinics will be held on Health Science and Main campuses in October and November. Students in the Master of Science in Clinical Nursing Leader Program and the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program will administer the vaccines.
The influenza vaccine is free and available to all UT employees and students with valid IDs.
UTMC faculty, staff, students and volunteers are required to receive the influenza vaccination. Employees have three options for fulfilling this requirement:
• Complete the online consent form and receive the vaccination on campus by Friday, Dec. 1.
• Upload documentation to prove the vaccination was received at their doctor’s office or other clinic.
• Request and receive approval for an exemption. Exemption requests are available online and must be submitted for review no later than Wednesday, Nov. 15. Individuals who are not approved for an exemption or those who do not meet the deadline will be required to receive the vaccination.
To upload documentation or access the consent form or exemption request, visit influenza.utoledo.edu. A link to this site also is available under the UT Community tab on the myUT portal. Additional questions related to the influenza vaccination requirement should be addressed to the appropriate UTMC department supervisor.
Clinics will take place:
• Wednesday, Oct. 18 — UT Medical Center gift shop area from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Thursday, Oct. 19 — UTMC gift shop from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Tuesday, Oct. 24 — Health Education Building Lobby from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Pinnacle Lounge from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Wednesday, Oct. 25 — Collier Building Lobby from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Thursday, Oct. 26 — Stranahan Hall Lobby from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Tuesday, Oct. 31 — Savage Arena Sullivan Athletic Complex Lobby from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Wednesday, Nov. 1 — Health and Human Services Building Lobby from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 2 — Thompson Student Union Lobby from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Monday, Nov. 6 — Pinnacle Lounge from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Wednesday, Nov. 8 — Pinnacle Lounge from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Friday, Nov. 10 — Pinnacle Lounge from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Tuesday, Nov. 21 — Pinnacle Lounge from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Thursday, Nov. 23 — Pinnacle Lounge from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Monday, Nov. 27 — Pinnacle Lounge from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Wednesday, Nov. 29 — Pinnacle Lounge from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Thursday, Nov. 30 — Pinnacle Lounge from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
