Time to get your flu shot

It’s flu season, which means it’s time to get vaccinated.

USA Health requires all personnel to have the annual/seasonal influenza vaccine or possess an approved exception as a condition of employment or access to patients. Employees will be offered the quadrivalent vaccine, which includes the four strains recommended based on flu data from the previous season. There’s also an egg-free option for those with allergies.

"All healthcare workers should receive the influenza vaccine for this year as soon as possible,” said Benjamin Estrada, M.D., a pediatric infectious disease specialist at USA Health. “It takes about two weeks to develop protective immunity against influenza after the vaccine is administered.”

When employees get vaccinated, they also protect others around them, he said.

“It is important to remember that when we are immunized against influenza, we are protecting ourselves but also protecting others, especially infants younger than 6 months of age who cannot yet receive the vaccine and other susceptible populations,” Estrada said.

Employees can get vaccinated at these locations:

CHILDREN’S & WOMEN’S HOSPITAL

Back Door Time Clock/Old OR Hallway

Oct. 1-4 and Oct. 7-11

7-8:30 a.m.

1-3 p.m.

*Flu vaccine is available in the pediatric emergency department for employees working nights and weekends. If you miss these times, call the employee health nurse at 251-415-1677 for an appointment.

MASTIN PROFESSIONAL BUILDING

6th Floor Conference Room

Tuesday, Oct. 1

8 a.m.-noon

Thursday, Oct. 3

8 a.m.-noon

STRADA PATIENT CARE CENTER

1st Floor Conference Room

Tuesday, Oct. 8

8 a.m. - noon

Thursday, Oct. 10

7:30-11 a.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 15

Noon-5 p.m.

MITCHELL CANCER INSTITUTE

Ground floor employee breakroom, Mobile office

Vaccines have arrived, and a flu clinic is expected to be scheduled for this Friday, Oct. 4.

UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

Employees having direct contact with patients are being vaccinated individually until more shipments of the vaccine arrive this week.