Details and Reservation Information for Campus Flu Shot Clinic – October 20

To: Campus Faculty, Staff and Postdoctoral Scholars
From: Julia McCallin, Human Resources
Date: October 9, 2020
Re: Details and Reservation Information for Campus Flu Shot Clinic – October 20

In support of Caltech's mandatory flu vaccination requirement for the 2020-21 academic year, Human Resources has organized a free campus flu clinic for staff, faculty, and postdoctoral scholars currently working on campus. This clinic will take place on Tuesday, October 20 from 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Reservations are required and can be made on a first-come basis in the online sign-up form. 

More than 600 doses will be available through the free campus clinic. However, faculty, staff, and postdoctoral scholars who are reporting to campus a minimum of one time per week will be prioritized for receiving vaccinations.

To safely manage the flow of participants and maintain physical distancing requirements, individuals are required to sign up for an appointment slot in advance.

The details of the campus clinic are as follows:

Date:               Tuesday, October 20
Time:               8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Place:              Hameetman Center
Bring:              Caltech identification
Wear:              Face covering and clothing that allows the upper arm to be exposed

For members of the campus community who are not reporting to campus a minimum of one time per week, we encourage you to get your free flu vaccination from your private healthcare provider. Free flu shots are also currently available at drugstores (Rite-Aid, CVS) throughout Southern California.

Mandatory Flu Vaccination Requirement
The Institute is requiring that all campus community members (including students, staff, faculty, and postdoctoral scholars) reporting on-site receive, and verify that they have received, the flu vaccine for the 2020-21 season. Individuals are asked to attest that they have received their immunization and provide the date of immunization by October 31; this attestation can be recorded through the Caltech COVID Reporting application. Failure to verify immunization by October 31 will cause loss of campus access.

This requirement is an important proactive measure to mitigate the spread of infection among campus community members and to limit potential strain on health care facilities this coming fall and winter. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that people are vaccinated against the flu to reduce the risk of respiratory illnesses, hospitalizations, and even the risk of flu-related death in at-risk populations.

Information on this requirement is available on the Institute's Caltech Together: Coronavirus Information site. Faculty, staff, and postdoctoral scholars may direct questions about the requirement to Human Resources Disability and Leave Administration Unit at [email protected].

Remote Employees and Graduate Students
Employees who are working remotely and not reporting to campus are not required to receive a flu vaccination. However, it is strongly recommended that everyone be vaccinated for the flu this season. Employees are also reminded that if they have not received their vaccination and they are asked to report on-site after October 31, their access to campus may be prohibited until they can attest to having received the vaccination.

Flu vaccinations for graduate students are being coordinated separately by Student Wellness Services.