Seasonal flu shots for School of Medicine employees, students begin Sept. 20

Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis again will offer free seasonal flu vaccines to its faculty, staff and students this fall, and all are strongly encouraged to get one.

Seasonal flu shots will begin Monday, Sept. 20, at Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital and are scheduled to be provided through Oct. 21 at the Washington University Medical Center.

The 2010-11 flu vaccine contains three seasonal influenza viruses: 2009 H1N1, H3N2 virus and an influenza B virus. Research indicates that those three will be the most common during the upcoming season.

This year, a separate vaccine for 2009 H1N1 is not needed since it is part of the seasonal flu vaccine.

“Not only is the H1N1 virus from last year included in this year’s vaccine, but also a new H3N2 virus,” says Keith Woeltje, MD, PhD, professor of medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases. “This strain of H3N2 has caused outbreaks in North America this summer.”

This year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone age 6 months and older be vaccinated. In addition, the School of Medicine recommends that all employees, even those with no direct patient contact, get a vaccine.

“The CDC changed its recommendations to include all adults since there are people who have high-risk conditions for complications from the flu who either don’t realize or may downplay their risk, such as people who have mild asthma,” says David Warren, MD, associate professor medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases. “But when they get influenza, it could be a very serious infection for them.

“Also, every year there are people who are otherwise healthy with no recognized risk factors who have serious complications from influenza and even die from it,” Warren says. “Given what is known about the safety of the influenza vaccine, the CDC felt that it made sense to extend its recommendations to everyone over 6 months old.”

Most people who get the flu will have mild illness, will not need medical care or medications and will recover in less than two weeks, according to the CDC. However, some people are at higher risk, including those with chronic health problems, such as asthma; neurological or neurodevelopmental conditions; chronic lung disease; blood, endocrine, kidney, liver or metabolic disorders; weakened immune systems due to disease or medication; or those who are morbidly obese with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or more. Children younger than 5 years old, adults 65 or older and pregnant women are also at higher risk.

To protect against the flu, physicians recommend:

  • good cough and sneeze etiquette;
  • frequent hand washing;
  • being aware of symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, fatigue and chills. In some cases, influenza may also cause diarrhea and vomiting; and
  • getting the seasonal flu vaccine.

The following locations offer School of Medicine employees a free seasonal flu vaccination. The sessions at the Center for Advanced Medicine will be held in conjunction with the Barnes-Jewish Hospital and St. Louis Children’s Hospital public sessions.

There will be a separate line for School of Medicine employees. Employees and students must have their badges and employee ID numbers. In addition, employees are reminded to wear short sleeves or clothing that makes their upper arms accessible.

  • Sept. 20, noon-5 p.m., Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital, MOB No. 3, second floor kitchen
  • Sept. 21, 8 a.m.-1 p.m., Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital, MOB No. 3, second floor kitchen
  • Oct. 4, 7 a.m.-5 p.m., Center for Advanced Medicine, third floor lobby behind information desk
  • Oct. 5, 7 a.m.-5 p.m., Center for Advanced Medicine, third floor lobby behind information desk
  • Oct. 6, 7 a.m.-5 p.m., Center for Advanced Medicine, third floor lobby behind information desk
  • Oct. 7, 7 a.m.-5 p.m., Center for Advanced Medicine, third floor lobby behind information desk
  • Oct. 8, 7 a.m.-5 p.m., Center for Advanced Medicine, third floor lobby behind information desk
  • Oct. 11, 7 a.m.-5 p.m., Center for Advanced Medicine, third floor lobby behind information desk
  • Oct. 12, 7 a.m.-5 p.m., Center for Advanced Medicine, third floor lobby behind information desk
  • Oct. 13, 7 a.m.-5 p.m., Center for Advanced Medicine, third floor lobby behind information desk
  • Oct. 14, 7 a.m.-5 p.m., Center for Advanced Medicine, third floor lobby behind information desk
  • Oct. 15, 7 a.m.-5 p.m., Center for Advanced Medicine, third floor lobby behind information desk
  • Oct. 21, 7 a.m.-2 p.m., Health Happening health fair, McDonnell Pediatrics Research Building atrium

Any employees unable to attend any of these sessions may call Student and Employee Health Services at (314) 362-3528 to schedule a flu shot.

Flu shots again will be offered for Danforth Campus employees the first week of November. Information will be forthcoming.