Roll up your sleeve, it’s time for flu shots

Football, pumpkin spice and flu shots. Fall is right around the corner and on-site influenza vaccine clinics are on the calendar.  

“I very much encourage that everybody get the vaccine to protect themselves as well as their families and their patients,” said Mark Rupp, MD, chief of the UNMC Division of Infectious Diseases and medical director of the Nebraska Medical Center Department of Infection Control & Epidemiology. “Everyone over six months of age should get vaccinated for flu.”  

Recently Approved COVID-19 Booster 

With the recent approval of the bivalent boosters from Pfizer and Moderna, plans are underway to add an option for colleagues to receive booster doses as part of the planned flu clinics and provide an opportunity for clinical staff to get their booster in their area.

There also will be options through Nebraska Medicine health centers and pharmacies for COVID-19 vaccine and booster doses, including the bivalent doses and the recently approved Novavax vaccine. Information is available on the Nebraska Medicine website on where and how to get a COVID-19 vaccine dose. Details will be updated as new information on the bivalent vaccine is available.  

Here are some key things to know about this year’s flu clinics: 

• For someone who works in a clinical area that has staff to administer the vaccine, get a flu shot in that clinical area. 

• For someone who does not work in a clinical area, see the flu clinic schedule below. No scheduling is required, and appointments will be on a walk-in basis. Fill out the influenza questionnaire on the Health Tracking System before arriving. Please bring your UNMC ID badge.

• If someone got a flu shot at an alternative location such as a primary care provider, local pharmacy or grocery store, make sure to document that in the Health Tracking System.

• For people who have health insurance through Nebraska Medicine, the vaccination should be covered free-of-charge. People with a different insurance provider can check to see if a co-pay is required for getting a flu shot at such places as a clinic or community pharmacy.
• 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. If the employee didn’t complete the health risk assessment, normal co-pays will apply. 

Nebraska Medical Center (all appointments will be in lower Storz Pavilion) 

• Wednesday, Sept. 28: 7 to 11 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.  
• Friday, Sept. 30: 8 a.m. to noon 
• Tuesday, Oct. 4: 8 a.m. to noon 
• Thursday, Oct. 6: 8 a.m. to noon 

• Friday, Oct. 7: 8 a.m. to noon 
• Friday, Oct. 14: 8 a.m. to noon 
• Tuesday, Oct. 18: 8 a.m. to noon 
• Thursday, Oct. 20: 8 a.m. to noon 
• Friday, Oct. 21: 8 a.m. to noon 

• Wednesday, Oct. 26: 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.  
• Thursday, Oct. 27: 8 a.m. to noon 
• Friday, Oct. 28: 8 a.m. to noon 
• Tuesday, Nov. 1: 8 a.m. to noon 
• Wednesday, Nov. 2: 8 a.m. to noon 

Bellevue Medical Center (all appointments will be in the main foyer on the garden level) 

• Thursday, Sept. 29: 8 a.m. to noon  
• Wednesday, Oct. 12: 7 to 11 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.