First Appeared Monday, 13 October '08

UCSF Opens Employee Drop-in Flu Shot Clinics

UCSF is providing free flu shots and raffle prizes at drop-in clinics at all major campus locations from Monday, Oct. 13 to Wednesday, Oct. 29.

Flu vaccinations are available to staff, faculty, students, volunteers and affiliates with UCSF identification.

The shot is a safe and effective vaccine that provides protection against the flu throughout the duration of the flu season. Contrary to what some people may believe, the vaccine does not cause the flu.

Schedules for flu shots are posted on the UCSF Occupational Health Services website.

This year, UCSF is offering the Flu Vaccination Education Program for Health Care Workers. This narrated PowerPoint presentation will be accessible via the Occupational Health website.

Under state law (SB 739) and Title 22, acute care hospitals are required to offer free flu shots to employees, students and volunteers. This year, only those hospital-based staff who decline the vaccination will be required to sign a statement. The form will be available online via the Occupational Health website after completing the PowerPoint education presentation. Each hospital site will be requiring its own declination form.

The UCSF Medical Center vaccination campaign is part of an effort to reduce the spread of the flu from health care professionals to patients and co-workers. Drop-in clinics will be held at several locations including 2300 Harrison St., China Basin, Executive Park, Laurel Heights, Mission Bay, Mission Center Building, Mount Zion and Parnassus.

Hospital-based employees who received a vaccination outside of UCSF must fax documentation to Occupational Health at 415/771-4472; OHS will add this documentation to employees’ electronic health records.

More information about the flu vaccine is available on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.