Now that we have entered the fall season, it is time to get a flu vaccination. The University is committed to helping faculty and staff prepare for the 2020-2021 flu season and is providing information on how and where you can get a free flu shot.

Health professionals have indicated that getting a flu shot this year is more important than ever as a way to help protect you, your family, and your community from the flu, and also preserve health care resources needed to continue fighting COVID-19. Using your medical insurance card, you can get a flu vaccine at in-network locations such as your doctor’s office, Urgent Care center, or pharmacy. Penn encourages you to consider one of the following options:

• Student Health Service: SHS will offer its annual Flu Vaccine Clinic in Houston Hall, Bodek Lounge from Monday, October 12 through Friday, October 16. The hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday. The walk-in clinics are free to faculty and staff. You do not need to register in advance, but you will need to bring your PennCard and be ready to show a “cleared” PennOpen Pass result on the day of your visit.
• CVS pharmacy: Effective October 1, 2020, faculty and staff enrolled in one of Penn’s health plans can get a flu shot at their local CVS pharmacy with no copay using their CVS Caremark card.
• Primary Care Physician: Through your health insurance plan, you can get a flu vaccine at your doctor’s office or other in-network flu shot provider. In accordance with the Affordable Care Act, flu vaccines are considered preventative services, so you will not have a copay.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention, everyone six months and older should get a flu vaccine by the end of October. For more information about the upcoming flu season, visit www.cdc.gov/flu.

Thank you for sharing in our collective responsibility to protect ourselves and each other from the flu.

—The Division of Human Resources