UTMB offers employee flu shots each year through our Flu Free vaccination program to help prevent the spread of seasonal influenza. An annual flu shot is the best way to protect yourself and others against illness and is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for everyone 6 months of age and older, unless prohibited for medical reasons.New for 2023–2024This year, employees will need to register in advance through MyChart to get a flu shot at any UTMB location. Advance registration is necessary due to new billing requirements instituted by UT System and will not result in any out-of-pocket costs to you. If you are not an established patient of UTMB, you will be able to create a new patient record or register as a guest.Any employee who is vaccinated at a non-UTMB facility is asked to complete an attestation as proof of vaccination. The attestation should be submitted within 24 hours of being vaccinated. Health Care Worker RequirementsAs a condition of continued employment, all health care workers must get an annual flu shot or complete a declination form. This institutional requirement applies to anyone who provides direct patient care, enters patient rooms and/or comes within six feet of patients in the course of their duties. Those who choose not to be vaccinated may be reassigned to other duties or required to wear a mask when providing patient care for the duration of the flu season. Contact UsFor questions about the UTMB Flu Free vaccination program or MyChart registration process: emphlthc@utmb.edu (409) 747-9172 Register Now for Employee Flu Shot Influenza Vaccine Attestation Influenza Vaccine Declination Employee Flu Shots Employee flu shots will be offered at each of our hospital campuses and primary care clinics to support this year’s vaccination program. Flu Free Locations Expand All Collapse All Angleton Danbury Campus Angleton Danbury Campus Hospital2nd Floor (during Education Fair)Oct. 24, 25 and 268 a.m. to 2 p.m. Clear Lake Campus Clear Lake Campus Hospital2nd Floor, Conference Room 2.211Oct. 18 and 197 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Galveston Campus Jennie Sealy Hospital4th Floor (corridor leading to CSW)Oct. 3 and 47 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.John Sealy Hospital1st Floor, LobbyOct. 10 and 117 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. League City Campus League City Campus Hospital1st Floor, LobbyOct. 16 and 177 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Employee Health Clinics Employee ImmunizationPrimary Care Pavilion, Suite 125400 Harborside Dr.Galveston, TX 77555Employee ImmunizationUTMB Health Primary and Specialty Care, Town CenterEntrance A, Suite 1.14302660 Gulf Fwy. SouthLeague City, TX 77573Check MyChart for availability. UTMB Clinics Check MyChart for availability. Important NoticesAs you prepare for vaccination, please note:Peer-to-peer vaccinations are not allowed due to the new billing requirements, unless done as part of a scheduled clinic appointment. UTMB will not be offering COVID vaccines as a part of the Flu Free vaccination program. COVID vaccines can be scheduled through MyChart or given at the time of a scheduled appointment if the clinic has it in stock. The high-dose quadrivalent flu shot is only available at the Employee Health Clinics for those 65 years of age and older. You will be required to present your UTMB Employee ID badge at the time of vaccination. It is also recommended that you have your insurance card should it be needed for verification purposes. Health care workers who get a flu shot will receive a 2023–2024 Flu Free card from their leader. The card must be worn with your UTMB Employee ID badge throughout the flu season. Outside the UTMB Clinical Service AreaIf you do not live or work in the UTMB clinical service area, you are encouraged to get a flu shot from your local provider or pharmacy. Any employee who is vaccinated at a non-UTMB facility is asked to complete an attestation as proof of vaccination. The attestation should be submitted within 24 hours of being vaccinated. MyChart Registration Process Step 1: Go to https://utmb.us/a4f to begin the registration process. Step 2: Select Yes to identify yourself as a current UTMB employee and then click the Continue button. Step 3: Enter your UTMB Employee ID number and then click the Continue button. Step 4: Click the Filters button and then click the Edit link to search by location. Step 5: Select your preferred location and then click the Continue button. Step 6: Select your preferred date and/or time. If you are registering for one of the hospital campus locations, please be advised that you may show up to get your flu shot at any time during the designated vaccination hours. Step 7: Follow the prompts to complete the registration process. If registering as a new patient or guest, you will need to provide your insurance information. This is a required field in our scheduling system. If you do not have insurance, you may call (832) 632-6731 for scheduling assistance. Frequently Asked Questions Flu Free FAQs Expand All Collapse All Who should get a flu shot? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone 6 months of age and older get vaccinated against the flu. It is especially important for certain groups—children under the age of 5, adults 65 years of age and older, pregnant women and people with chronic health conditions such as asthma, diabetes and heart disease—to get the flu vaccine. These groups are at greater risk for serious complications from the flu, which can include bacterial pneumonia, bronchitis, ear and sinus infections and dehydration. Who should not get a flu shot? People with an allergy to eggs, severe reactions to previous flu vaccines and a history of Guillain-Barré Syndrome should consult their health care provider before being vaccinated. Those who have a moderate to severe illness with a fever should also wait to get the flu vaccine until their symptoms lessen. What flu viruses does the 2023–2024 vaccine protect against? The quadrivalent flu vaccine protects against the four influenza viruses that research indicates will be the most prevalent during the upcoming season. The 2023-2024 flu vaccine is made from:A/Georgia/12/2022 CVR-167 (A/Wisconsin/67/2022 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus)A/Darwin/11/2021 (A/Darwin/6/2021 (H3N2)-like virus)B/Singapore/WUH4618/2021 (B/Austria/1359417/2021-like virus)B/Singapore/INFIT-16-0610/2016 (B/Phuket/3073/2013-like virus) How effective is the flu vaccine? The effectiveness of the flu vaccine depends largely on the similarity between the viruses in the vaccine and those in circulation. If the viruses in the vaccine and the ones in the community are closely matched, vaccine effectiveness is higher. If they are not closely matched, vaccine effectiveness can be reduced. Am I required to get a flu shot? Health care workers must get a flu shot or formally decline the vaccination each year as a condition of continued employment. All others are strongly encouraged to get vaccinated to help prevent the spread of this potentially serious disease. Who is considered a health care worker? Anyone who provides direct patient care, enters patient rooms and/or comes within six feet of patients in the course of their duties is considered a health care worker. I have decided not to get vaccinated at this time. What do I need to do? If you are a health care worker and you choose not to get vaccinated against the flu, you must formally decline the flu shot. All other employees who choose not to be vaccinated are not required to submit the form. Flu Free FAQs2 Expand All Collapse All Will I be expected to pay for the flu shot this year? The flu shot is covered 100% by most insurance companies – including Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas – and you should not experience any out-of-pocket costs. Why do I have to register through MyChart to get vaccinated at a UTMB location? Employees will need to register through MyChart this year due to new billing requirements instituted by UT System. It will ensure all vaccine administration costs are billed to your insurance. I’m not an established patient of UTMB. Can I still register to receive a flu shot? Yes. You will be able to create a new patient record or register as a guest if you are not an established UTMB patient. What if I forget to register in advance? Any employee who does not register in advance may still get vaccinated at one of the hospital campus locations if you bring your insurance card. I am a Correctional Managed Care employee. Where should I get vaccinated? Because peer-to-peer vaccinations are not allowed, CMC employees will need to get vaccinated through your local provider or pharmacy. You will also need to complete an attestation as proof of vaccination. The attestation should be submitted within 24 hours of being vaccinated. I do not work in UTMB's clinical service area. Where should I get vaccinated? If you do not live or work in the UTMB clinical service area, you are encouraged to get a flu shot from your local provider or pharmacy. Any employee who is vaccinated at a non-UTMB facility is asked to complete an attestation as proof of vaccination. The attestation should be submitted within 24 hours of being vaccinated. Will UTMB be offering COVID boosters? No. UTMB will not be offering COVID boosters as a part of the Flu Free vaccination program. COVID boosters can be scheduled through MyChart or given at the time of a scheduled appointment if the clinic has vaccine in stock. If you do not live or work in the UTMB clinical service area, you are encouraged to contact your local provider or pharmacy for availability.