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Flu Vaccine Clinics on Campus

September 27, 2022

Dear members of the SLU community,

Flu shots will once again be available for students, faculty and staff on SLU’s campus this fall. 

Clinics are scheduled for numerous dates and locations, listed below. You can sign up for appointments here. Walk-ins are also welcome.

Flu shots are especially important this year

We are once again entering flu season. This year, public health experts are expecting a more severe flu season than we have seen in the past few years. Since the COVID-19 pandemic started, masks and physical distancing have helped to limit the spread of both COVID-19 and flu. 

With most mask mandates now eliminated and physical distancing a thing of the past, we can expect more transmission of flu, COVID-19, and other respiratory viral illnesses. 

Experts are also warning of a potential “twindemic,” meaning a large outbreak of COVID-19 and flu, because the flu season is expected to hit early and hard this year. Australia has already experienced a rough flu season, which is usually an indication of what we will see in the U.S. 

The best protection against flu is the flu vaccine. Many students and employees are already required to get an annual flu vaccine as part of a clinical or educational program requirement. We highly recommend that everyone who is medically able receive the flu vaccine. This is especially important this year, with the expected twindemic. 

Why get a flu shot?

Getting a flu shot will dramatically reduce your chance of getting the flu or having severe disease if you do become infected. It also reduces your risk of exhibiting flu-like symptoms that can be confused for COVID-19 or other viral illnesses. Testing is the only way to determine whether you have COVID or the flu. 

It is also possible to be co-infected with both flu and COVID-19 at the same time, increasing the risk of having a severe illness that could prevent you from being able to attend class or work for an extended period of time. 

While the flu vaccine does not protect against COVID-19, maximizing influenza vaccinations among our student body and employees will help to keep campus safe, and reduce the burden on health care personnel. For example, it will reduce the impact on the Student Health Center, Employee Health and the local health system in St. Louis while these critical health care teams continue to care for those suffering from COVID-19. 

Can I receive the flu vaccine at the same time or near the same time that I get the COVID-19 vaccine or bivalent booster?  

Yes. You can receive the flu vaccine and COVID-19 vaccine at or near the same time. If you have concerns about getting both vaccines at the same time, you should speak with your healthcare provider.   

The University will be holding separate flu and COVID vaccination clinics in the coming weeks. However, on October 18 the COVID-19 vaccination clinic will be held at the Simon Rec Center and the FLU vaccination clinic will be held in the Busch Student Center and Cook Hall. 

So, how do I get a flu shot? 

Saint Louis University will be offering on-campus flu shots for all students, staff and faculty at multiple times and locations during September and October. Schedule your appointment here. Walk-ins are also welcome.

You will need to fill out a consent and Insurance form or pick up a paper copy at the information desks in Busch Student Center, Simon Recreation Center and at the main circulation desk at Pius Library), and show up! 

Note: You will need your insurance card to complete the form. Having all of this done prior to your vaccination appointment will speed up the process. No health insurance? Your flu shot is on us. 

Will it cost me anything? 

If you get your flu shot on campus during one of our vaccination clinics, we can guarantee there will be no cost to you.  

Your health insurance plan will reimburse the Visiting Nurse Association of Greater St. Louis, a non-profit agency that is partnering with SLU to administer your flu shot.  

If you are a SLU student, a SLU employee, or a Sodexo employee working at SLU, and you do not have health insurance — or if your health plan does not cover this expense — the flu shot will be provided at no cost to you. Last year, SLU paid the cost of flu shots for more than 550 members of our community. 

May members of my family get their flu shot at SLU?

Yes! Please make sure they register for an appointment and bring their insurance information with them. SLU will not vaccinate your family member/cover the cost of the vaccine if your family member does not bring proof of insurance to their appointment. 

What else? 

If you have questions about getting your flu shot, you can check out SLU’s flu vaccination webpage, email fightflu@slu.edu or read more about it at the CDC website. 

These flu shot clinics are hosted by our School of Nursing faculty and students. Many thanks to them for their continued work to support the health of the SLU community.

Stay safe and be well. 

Terri Rebmann, Ph.D., RN, CIC, FAPIC 
Special Assistant to the President 
Director, Institute for Biosecurity 
Professor, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics 
College for Public Health and Social Justice 

Deborah Horton, RN, MSN, MPH, PHNA-BC
Assistant Professor
Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing