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Flu Shot Clinics This Fall

September 26, 2023

Dear members of the SLU community, Flu shots will once again be available to all students, faculty and staff on our three St. Louis campuses, beginning this Friday.

Please use this link to schedule an appointment for any one of our flu clinics:

Walk-ins are welcome at our flu clinics, except for those held on Thursday, October 5 at the Allied Health Building and Thursday, October 12 at the BSC.

Flu shots are especially important this semester

We are entering a flu season that is likely to be much more severe than we have seen in recent years. Diligent face mask use will help prevent the spread of both influenza and COVID-19.

The best protection against influenza is the flu vaccine. And we strongly recommend that everyone who is medically able should obtain a flu vaccine this semester.

Many SLU students and employees are already required to get an annual flu vaccine as part of a clinical or educational program requirement.

Which vaccines will be available?

We will be providing a quadrivalent (four component) flu vaccine this year.  We also will offer preservative-free flu vaccine for pregnant individuals, high-dose vaccine for community members who are age 65 and over, and egg-free vaccine for people with egg allergies.

Why get a flu shot?

Getting a flu shot will dramatically reduce your chances of being knocked down by influenza for several days.

It also reduces your risk of exhibiting flu-like symptoms that can be confused for COVID-19, RSV or other viral illnesses. Testing is the only way to determine whether you have COVID or the flu. 

It is 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 students and employees will reduce the spread of flu on campus and the burden it places on our health care professionals in clinics and local hospitals.

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 this semester. Schedule your appointment here.

Please complete the consent and health insurance form in advance to help reduce your clinic wait time.

Paper copies are available at the information desks in Busch Student Center, Simon Recreation Center and at the main circulation desk in Pius Library.

Consent and health insurance forms will be available for walk-in appointments.

You will need to refer to your health insurance card to complete the form. 

No health insurance? Your flu shot is on us.

Will I have to pay out of pocket for my flu shot?

No. Your health insurance plan will reimburse the Visiting Nurse Association of Greater St. Louis (VNA) for the costs of the influenza vaccine and administration. The VNA is a non-profit agency that has been partnering with SLU in recent years to help administer flu shots on our campuses, along with the extraordinary faculty and students from our Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing.

If you do not have health insurance, or your health plan will not cover the cost of a flu shot provided at one the University’s flu clinics, the flu shot will be provided at no cost to you — no matter whether you are a SLU student, a SLU employee, or a Sodexo employee working at SLU.

Last year, the University covered the costs of flu vaccines for more than 650 people who either had no health insurance or whose payors had rejected paying for flu shots.

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

Yes, as long as they can provide proof of health insurance. Please make sure that they register for an appointment and bring their health insurance card with them, to complete the required consent and health insurance form. 

SLU will not vaccinate family members who are unable to provide their current proof of insurance at the time of their appointment.

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

Yes, you can receive the flu vaccine and COVID-19 vaccine, at or near the same time, at local community clinics and pharmacies. If you have concerns about getting both vaccines at the same time, you should speak to a healthcare provider. Our COVID vaccine clinics have yet to be scheduled.

What else should I know? 

Our flu shot clinics would not occur without the tremendous involvement of our School of Nursing faculty and students. Many thanks to them for their continued work to promote the public health of the SLU community.

If you have questions about getting your flu shot, you can check out SLU’s flu vaccination webpage or email us at fightflu@slu.edu. The website of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has up-to-date information on the flu vaccine.

Stay safe and be well. 

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

Katie Skosky, APRN, FNP-C
Director
Student Health Center