Flu Shot Program Curtailed

The University has revised its flu shot vaccination program because of the national shortage of the vaccine.

Information about the revised program is available at: http://www.northwestern.edu/hr/flushots.html.

Flu shots will not be offered at this time to faculty and staff, including those who are at high risk as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Faculty and staff members should obtain flu vaccinations elsewhere if possible.

University Health Service will provide vaccinations to undergraduate and graduate students who are at high risk. Students must call the Health Service (847-491-2204) to make an appointment with a physician or nurse practitioner to verify their high-risk status.

The Health Service cannot offer the same service to faculty and staff because it is restricted by law to treating only registered students.

If more vaccine becomes available to the University, Human Resources and the Health Service will inform the University community.

Students who are eligible for flu shots are those identified by the CDC as having these high-risk conditions:
• Persons with these underlying medical conditions:
   Chronic pulmonary or cardiovascular disease
   Asthma
   Chronic metabolic diseases such as diabetes
   Renal (kidney) dysfunction
   Hemoglobinopathies (requiring treatment in the last year)
   Immunosuppression (e.g., cancer chemotherapy or HIV/AIDS)
• Pregnant women
• Children ages 6 months to 18 years receiving long-term aspirin therapy
• Caregivers of children younger than 6 months

The changes in the flu shot program were announced in a bulk email sent Friday (Oct. 8) by Donald A. Misch, M.D., executive director, University Health Service, and Guy E. Miller, associate vice president for Human Resources.

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