Be a Flu Buster — get your vaccine by Oct. 30
Get vaccinated or opt out and wear a mask in patient care areas.
Last flu season, more than 92 percent of our UF Health Shands and UF College of Medicine workforce received their flu vaccination. Thanks to these efforts to protect our patients, visitors, co-workers and the community, we saw a low number of flu cases among our employees last flu season.
“Our health care community is accustomed to working together to treat diseases. However, the prevention of disease is the greatest service we can provide to our patients and one another,” said Nicole Iovine, M.D., Ph.D., hospital epidemiologist for UF Health Shands Hospital and UF College of Medicine associate professor of infectious disease and global medicine.
As our care teams continue to encounter increasingly complex cases, it’s paramount that we don’t put these vulnerable patients at risk.
“Given the nature and severity of the types of illnesses some of our patients are battling, it’s not hard to imagine how a mildly sick worker can put a patient at great risk,” said Ed Jimenez, UF Health Shands CEO. “This has to be at the front of our minds when we think about flu vaccination.”
Marvin Dewar, M.D., J.D., UF College of Medicine senior associate dean and UF Health Physicians CEO
Ed Jimenez, UF Health Shands CEO
Timothy Flynn, M.D., FACS, UF College of Medicine senior associate dean for clinical affairs and UF Health Shands chief medical officer
Starting Sept. 7, the groups listed on the following page can get free flu vaccinations at UF Health Shands Occupational Health Services, located at UF Health Shands Hospital, Room 1004. OHS will also host flu vaccination events on our Archer Road campuses, at our specialty hospitals and in several other Gainesville locations.
All UF faculty, staff and students can get a no-cost flu vaccination when the UF Student Health Care Center is on site during flu vaccination events at UF Health. UF students are eligible for free flu shots at SHCC locations at any time.
If you belong to one of the priority groups listed on the following page and choose to get a flu vaccination from a provider outside UF Health or UF, you’ll be asked to show proof of vaccination paperwork to obtain a vaccination sticker for your ID badge.
Beginning Oct. 31, those who choose to opt out of receiving the vaccination for medical, religious or personal reasons will be required to follow a formal opt-out process and to wear a mask in patient care areas.
The following workers are eligible for a no-cost flu shot through UF Health Shands Occupational Health:
- UF Health Shands employees and volunteers
- UF Health Physicians employees
- UF College of Medicine faculty physicians, residents and fellows
- Credentialed ARNPs
- Credentialed physician assistants
- Credentialed medical staff
All UF faculty, staff and students can get no-cost flu vaccinations when the UF Student Health Care Center is on site during flu vaccination events at UF Health.
Flu vaccination events:
UF Health Shands Hospital Atrium
Sept. 7-9: 6:45 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sept. 12: 6:45 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sept. 15: 5-10 p.m.*
Sept. 19: 6:45 a.m. to 10 p.m. (SHCC will attend through 4 p.m.)
Sept. 21: 6:45 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sept. 22: 5-10 p.m.*
Sept. 26: 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sept. 27: 3-10 p.m.*
Sept. 29: 7-10 a.m. & 2-4:45 p.m.
Sept. 30: 1-4:30 p.m.
Oct. 10-13: 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Oct. 14: 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.*
Oct. 26: 6:45 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Oct. 27: 6:45 a.m. to 5 p.m.*
Oct. 28: 6:45 a.m. to 5 p.m.
UF Health Shands Cancer Hospital – Room 1205
Sept. 13: 1-4:30 p.m.
Sept. 14: 6:45 a.m. to noon
Sept. 20: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sept. 23: 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Oct. 20: 6:45-10 a.m.
Oct. 21: 2-4:30 p.m.
Oct. 24: 6:45-11 a.m.
*Events followed by an asterisk will be staffed by by OHS only. For co-hosted events starting at 6:45 a.m. or 7 a.m., SHCC will arrive at 8 a.m.
All staff and volunteers need to bring an ID badge and those receiving vaccination through SHCC also need to bring an insurance card.
OHS will visit several other locations, including locations in the Medical Plaza, on 39th Avenue, Hull Road and more. To view an updated schedule of flu vaccination events across UF Health, visit bridge.UFHealth.org/flu.
Dates are subject to change based on flu vaccine availability.
