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Get Your Free Flu Shot

Staff and faculty can get vaccinated early in preparation for flu season

Flu vaccinations begin this week to prepare for the upcoming flu season. Duke students, staff, faculty and dependents covered under an employee's Duke health plan can receive the seasonal flu vaccine for free.
Flu vaccinations begin this week to prepare for the upcoming flu season. Duke students, staff, faculty and dependents covered under an employee's Duke health plan can receive the seasonal flu vaccine for free.

Even though the timing of North Carolina flu outbreaks can be unpredictable, staff and faculty can protect themselves early by getting a free flu vaccine.

Starting Sept. 15, employees can receive flu shots at flu vaccination clinic locations on Duke’s academic and medical campuses. Also, beginning Sept. 15, employees can visit the Employee Occupational Health and Wellness (EOHW) clinic in the basement level of Duke Clinic’s Red Zone for a shot.

For the 2016-17 season, Duke will offer a quadrivalent vaccine, which protects against four strains of flu viruses and has become a more desirable option among adults looking for further protection against the flu. Also available at the EOHW clinic is an egg-free option for individuals with allergies.

“The flu can be unpredictable, and a person can get the flu and have very severe outcomes, even death, related to the flu,” said Dr. Carol Epling, director of EOHW. “The best thing you can do is get the flu shot to prevent that from happening. We’d like to see people get vaccinated early in the season.”

No appointment is necessary, however staff and faculty must present a valid DukeCard ID to receive a vaccine. The flu shot is a condition of employment in the Health System and for many School of Medicine employees. Find the full “Fight the Flu” schedule here.

About 30,000 Duke employees received a vaccine or exemption through Duke during the 2015-16 season. There were 59 flu-associated deaths in North Carolina from October 2015 through May 2016, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

While the exact timing and duration of flu seasons vary, flu outbreaks often begin in October and can last as late as May, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most of the time, flu activity peaks between December and February.

Shannon Robbins, a staff assistant in the Trinity College of Arts & Sciences’ Office of Finance and Administration, had not gotten a flu shot yet when she caught the flu five years ago. She missed a few days of work and stayed home, taking Tamiflu medicine.

“Every muscle hurt. Every joint hurt,” Robbins said. “If you’ve had the flu, you never want it again. Your best defense is to get the vaccine.”

Visit flu.duke.edu for the vaccination schedule.

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Free Flu Shots for Dependents

Beginning Sept. 17, certain Duke Primary Care locations are offering extended and weekend hours this fall for children and other dependents of Duke employees to get a flu vaccine. There is no copay for the shot or visit unless the patient sees a doctor. Nurses and medical assistants administer shots.

Dependents do not have to be covered by a Duke health plan in order to receive the vaccine. Flu vaccinations are covered by most health plans, and a self-pay discount is offered to patients who do not have insurance coverage.

Duke employees are encouraged to make an appointment for dependents by calling 1-855-372-1981. Walk-ins may require a longer wait time. See the Duke dependent flu shot schedule for upcoming dates and locations.