As part of the University of Miami’s COVID-19 response, students, faculty, and staff on all campuses are required to receive the seasonal flu vaccine. While religious and medical exemptions will be made, the University community is encouraged to comply, even if working or studying remotely. As shared in the COVID-19 Return to Onsite Work Employee policy, all employees are required to receive an annual influenza vaccination or possess an approved exemption, prior to returning to campus.
As shared by President Julio Frenk, the University-wide requirement will be implemented for the following three main reasons.
- Receiving the vaccine will help to ensure that the seasonal flu does not reduce health care resources for those in need of care during a pandemic.
- Flu and COVID-19 symptoms have many similarities, therefore the seasonal flu vaccine will lessen complications to the University’s COVID-19 testing, tracking, and tracing efforts.
- Because of the unknowns about how the flu and COVID-19 will interact, the flu vaccine will help to eliminate the uncertainties as we work toward solutions.
Flu shots are currently available for students, faculty, and staff by appointment only at multiple locations on and off campus.
Important dates:
- Exemption submission deadline: Friday, Oct. 16, 2020
- Compliance deadline for students: Monday, Nov. 16, 2020
- Compliance deadline for faculty and staff: Friday, Dec. 11, 2020
The following information outlines where and when you can schedule your flu shot, provide documentation of completion or exemption, and get answers to frequently asked questions.
Faculty and staff:
Visit the employee health website to view a full listing of on and off campus flu shot locations. Those who receive their flu shot outside of the provided locations will be required to provide documentation in Workday. Religious or medical exemptions will also need to be submitted through Workday, prior to Oct. 16, 2020.
Students:
Flu shots are currently available at the Student Health Service by scheduling an appointment at mystudenthealth.miami.edu (for "Visit Reason" choose "Flu Shot"). Find additional information regarding documentation, scheduling, and exceptions for students here.
Information for managers:
A management dashboard for flu immunizations is available in Workday. This dashboard allows managers to access a database of faculty and/or staff within their area who have received their flu shot. This dashboard will support your role in monitoring flu immunization compliance.
