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Protect Yourself, Others With Flu Shot

Free flu vaccinations now available for the Duke community

Kathe Kaufman, left, a research analyst with Recruitment, receives a free seasonal flu vaccination from LIVE FOR LIFE nurse Janet Stolp. Free vaccines are now available for all faculty and staff. Photo by Bryan Roth.
Kathe Kaufman, left, a research analyst with Recruitment, receives a free seasonal flu vaccination from LIVE FOR LIFE nurse Janet Stolp. Free vaccines are now available for all faculty and staff. Photo by Bryan Roth.

Joy Searles can't remember the last time she had the flu. 

That's because for as long as she can remember, she's been receiving a free flu vaccination annually from Duke. Earlier this month, she stopped by the Employee Occupational Health and Wellness (EOHW) office at Duke Clinic and was among the first faculty and staff to get a flu shot.

"It works," said Searles, a staff assistant in the Global Education Office for Undergraduates. "There's no co-pay or charge, so that's a great benefit. There's no reason everyone shouldn't be immunized."

Starting now, all Duke employees can receive a free flu vaccination with a valid DukeCard. Vaccinations are available between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday to Friday, with the exception of noon to 2 p.m. Wednesdays in the Employee Occupational Health and Wellness office on the basement level of the Red Zone of Duke Clinic. No appointment is necessary.

EOHW staff will also hold roving clinics throughout the university and Health System. The first will be held from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Sept. 27 at the Duke University Hospital (North) cafeteria. More than 30 other dates have been scheduled through November and can be found on Duke's "Fight the Flu" website.

"Employees who have any contact with patients need to get the flu shot in order to best protect Duke's patients from getting the flu," said Dr. Carol Epling, co-director of Employee Occupational Health and Wellness. "It's also important for employees who don't work with patients to protect themselves because that will minimize the use of sick time and make sure they don't get coworkers or family members sick."

Last year, Duke distributed about 16,000 doses of the seasonal flu vaccine to faculty, staff, volunteers, retirees, students, and affiliates. This year's vaccination provides protection from the same strains of flu as last year, including H1N1. Even if Duke community members received a shot last year, it's still recommended to receive a new vaccination because the duration of a vaccination doesn't last long enough to protect a person through two flu seasons.

In addition to a vaccination, Epling said faculty and staff can protect against the flu by maintaining good hygiene.

"It's really as simple as washing your hands and when people get sick, they should stay home," she said. "It's important to drink lots of fluids too."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest all people 6 months of age and older receive a flu vaccination annually. Epling said North Carolina typically sees its peak of flu cases in January, which is why Searles is happy she got her flu shot already.

"It's important for me because I don't want to spread the flu around campus," she said. "I'm around a lot of students and I have grandchildren, so I don't want to get the flu or share it."