Fall is just around the corner and although that means a reprieve from the hot summer months, it also means that flu season is rearing up to try and disrupt any fun fall and end-of-year plans. Don’t sweat it, though, because (1) many of us have done our fair share of that already this summer and (2) protection from the flu is available to you.
Flu vaccination is the best protection
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reminds us each year that a “flu vaccine is the best way to protect against flu and its potentially serious complications. In addition to reducing risk of flu illness, flu vaccination has been shown to reduce severity of illness in people who get vaccinated but still get sick with flu. That means vaccinated people could be less likely to be hospitalized with flu or less likely to be admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) with flu:”.1
In fact, among adults, the rate of hospitalization from the flu is reduced by about 40 percent, as well as a 74 percent decrease in the rate of pediatric intensive care unit admissions for children.
The flu can be very serious, especially for individuals with chronic conditions such as heart disease, asthma, or diabetes, as well as adults 65 years of age and pregnant women.2
It is important to take steps to protect yourself from the flu each year and many of them are available to you conveniently and at little to no cost.
Getting your vaccine
On-Campus options:
- On-campus flu clinics take place each year. This year, the clinics will take place beginning the week of September 22 through October 17. These clinics are available to employees, their spouses and dependents (4 years of age and older). Registration for the clinics will open at the beginning of September and will be held at the following locations.
- Keating Bioresearch (BIO5) Building
- McKale Memorial Center
- UA Phoenix College of Medicine
- UA Cancer Center North
Off-Campus options:
- Healthwaves, through the Arizona Department of Administration, hosts clinics for state employees around Arizona. University employees, their spouses and dependents (4 years of age and older) are eligible to attend these public flu shot clinics.
- Primary Care Physician offices and local pharmacies are other locations where flu vaccines are available.
For additional information about flu shot clinic registration links, resources, and FAQs visit the Life & Work Connections Flu Shots webpage and stay tuned!