Flu shot clinic is Oct. 6-17

ISU WellBeing and occupational medicine will offer a free employee flu shot clinic Oct. 6-17 (weekdays 9 a.m.-4 p.m.), at the fitness studio (room 1218) in the southeast corner of State Gymnasium.

No appointment or registration is needed, and participants check in electronically with their ISU ID number when they arrive. More than 2,400 shots were given during last year's clinic, said ISU wellbeing and worklife senior coordinator Stephanie Downs.

The vaccine is available for these employee groups:

• Faculty, professional and scientific, merit and postdocs
• University child care centers
• Retirees on the university health plan who are not yet 65
• ISU Foundation
• Iowa State Daily 

These employees are encouraged to use the clinic to receive the shot because staying healthy is important especially during the flu season and the on-site option is a more convenient, cost-effective option for the university, Downs said. High-risk employees who are pregnant, older or have other medical conditions or disabilities should consult The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which provides guidelines and benefits of receiving the vaccine for high-risk employees.

"We have great participation and believe it is a valued service to have it on site," Downs said. "It requires less time for our employees, and we know that it supports their well-being."

Employees' spouses and children are not eligible for the clinic, but family members covered by ISU health insurance can receive a flu shot from their medical provider or a retail pharmacy. Visiting scholars and students should contact the Thielen Student Health Center, 294-5801, for vaccination information.

Employees are encouraged to walk to the clinic at State Gym and enter the building at the south corner. The vaccination clinic is close to an accessible entrance. Parking will be available in the general staff lot (Lot 1) south of the building. A limited number of reserved spaces will be available close to the building. CyRide also stops next to State Gym on Union Drive.

Two nurses will administer the shots. If possible, employees are asked to wear a short-sleeve or loose-fitting shirt to give the nurse easier access to an upper arm. Participants in ISU WellBeing's Adventure2 wellness program will receive 50 points for getting a flu shot before Nov. 15.

COVID-19 vaccinations won't be available at the flu shot clinic. Benefits-eligible employees can contact their health care provider or pharmacy about receiving a COVID-19 vaccine, which is covered by ISU health insurance as a preventive service at 100% coverage.

The vaccine

Employees who get a shot will receive a three-component vaccine that protects against A and B flu virus strains. The vaccine contains the three viruses recommended this season by the CDC:

• A/Victoria/4897/2022 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus
• A/Croatia/10136RV/2023 (H3N2)-like virus
• B/Austria/1359417/2021 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus 

For those 65 and older, the high-dose flu vaccine will be available at the clinic on Thursday, Oct. 9 (9 a.m.-1 p.m.).

"Each year, we get a few requests for the high dose, so instead of having to send employees somewhere else, we are trying to have one day to accommodate them," Downs said. "We wanted to provide the convenience to that employee population."

It's not possible to get the flu by receiving a flu shot because it is not a live virus, said ISU wellbeing specialist Heather Burke. Individuals may feel feverish after getting the shot, but that reaction can be the body developing the antibodies. It takes about two weeks for antibodies that protect against the flu to fully develop, she said. 

"Some individuals may experience worse symptoms or may require hospitalization if they don’t receive the flu vaccine," she said.

Information about the 2025 flu season is available through the CDC. Downs said currently there is no plan to offer flu shots after the clinic concludes.