Flu, COVID-19 vaccination clinics begin Sept. 23

As COVID-19 cases climb and flu season approaches, protect yourself, your family, your patients and the community by getting vaccinated.

As in years’ past, the medical center’s goal is for at least 90% of employees and health care providers to receive the influenza vaccine. All health care providers, students and employees are expected to document their flu vaccination status in the health tracking system.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) may approve a booster dose for the Pfizer and/or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines by the time on-site flu vaccination clinics begin. If this happens, Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine doses and influenza vaccine will be available at the on-site clinics scheduled at Nebraska Medical Center. Nebraska Medicine is not currently administering the Moderna vaccine to patients or colleagues.

The following information is based on what is known as of today, Tuesday, Sept. 14, and is subject to change based on decisions made by the FDA this week.

• It is possible that the FDA will announce after it meets on Friday, Sept. 17, that anyone who received a Pfizer or Moderna series more than six or eight months ago will be eligible for a booster dose.
• If a booster dose is recommended, the FDA will likely announce that the Pfizer vaccine is an acceptable booster dose for anyone who received the Pfizer or Moderna series. This would be consistent with the booster doses currently being offered for immunocompromised patients.
• Individuals who completed the Moderna series who would prefer a Moderna dose will need to make arrangements to receive the Moderna vaccine at a non-Nebraska Medicine location. You can search for a provider offering the Moderna vaccine at vaccinefinder.org.
• Recommendations regarding booster dosing for those who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine will hopefully be forthcoming. At present, they should not get a Pfizer or Moderna booster.
• The Pfizer and Moderna booster doses currently are not included as part of the recent UNMC vaccine requirement for students, faculty and staff.
• If you plan to receive your COVID-19 booster, you will need to bring your vaccination card to the clinic.

There are three ways to get your vaccinations: within your clinical area, at an on-site vaccination clinic or at a pharmacy, grocery store or your primary care provider’s office. Details for each option are listed below.

Clinical Area

If you work in a clinical area that has staff to administer the influenza vaccine, get your flu shot within your clinical area. Managers will be notified when influenza vaccines are available.

For your convenience, a traveling COVID-19 vaccination cart will also be going through inpatient areas at Nebraska Medical Center and Bellevue Medical Center to reach clinical workers. Schedules for the traveling carts will be shared with leadership in those locations as they are finalized.

On-site Vaccination Clinics

Vaccination clinics will be held at Nebraska Medical Center and Bellevue Medical Center.

Clinics at Nebraska Medical Center will include influenza and COVID-19 vaccines. Advance scheduling is required for the Nebraska Medical Center clinics and can be completed here. You only need to sign up for one appointment time, regardless of if you are receiving one or both vaccines. The COVID-19 boosters will take place in lower Storz Pavilion; influenza vaccine will be given upstairs in the ground-level Storz Pavilion.

The clinics at Bellevue Medical Center will only administer the influenza vaccine. The clinics at Bellevue Medical Center will be on a walk-in basis and no advanced scheduling is required. Colleagues who work in Bellevue and wish to receive a COVID-19 booster should take advantage of a traveling COVID-19 vaccination cart, be vaccinated during an on-site clinic at Nebraska Medical Center or at another vaccination site within the community.

Fill out your influenza questionnaire on the health tracking system before your scheduled time and arrive as close as possible to your appointment time. Bring your ID badge with you.

Nebraska Medical Center: Influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations available, make an appointment here

• Thursday, Sept. 23: 8 a.m. to noon
• Wednesday Sept. 29: 8 a.m. to noon
• Thursday, Sept. 30: 8 a.m. to noon
• Friday, Oct. 1: 8 a.m. to noon
• Wednesday, Oct. 6: 7 to 11 a.m.
• Friday, Oct. 8: 8 a.m. to noon
• Wednesday, Oct. 13: 8 a.m. to noon
• Thursday, Oct. 14: 8 a.m. to noon
• Friday, Oct. 15: 8 a.m. to noon
• Tuesday, Oct. 19: 3 to 7 p.m.
• Friday, Oct. 22: 8 a.m. to noon
• Wednesday, Oct. 27: 7 to 11 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, Nov. 2: 3 to 7 p.m.
• Friday, Nov. 5: 8 a.m. to noon
• Thursday, Nov. 11: 8 a.m. to noon

Bellevue Medical Center: Influenza vaccinations available, no sign up is needed

• Tuesday, Oct. 5: 7 to 9 a.m. and 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.
• Wednesday, Oct. 13: 7 to 11 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Pharmacy, Grocery Store or Primary Care Provider

You may also choose to get your influenza and/or COVID-19 vaccine booster at a local pharmacy, primary care provider or grocery store. If you do, document your vaccine status in the health tracking system. If you have health insurance through Nebraska Medicine, your influenza vaccination should be covered free-of-charge. If you have a different insurance provider, check to see if a co-pay is required. UNMC employees who completed the health risk assessment and are enrolled in its health insurance can receive a flu shot at any in-network pharmacy for free. For UNMC employees who didn’t complete the health risk assessment, a normal co-pay will apply.

Tuberculosis Annual Symptom Review

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) no longer recommends routine annual skin testing for health care personnel. However, all health care providers do need to complete an annual symptom review form. This form is located within the online health tracking system and can be filled out when you log in to complete your influenza questionnaire or document your influenza or COVID-19 vaccination status.