News to Use
IUPUI to begin flu shots Sept. 3
Aug. 29, 2013
IU School of Medicine faculty, staff, students, fellows and residents considered employees, affiliated physicians, volunteers, students, contractors and vendors at IU Health and Wishard Health Services are required to receive an influenza vaccination this flu season.
The policy has been implemented to protect individuals, as well as the patients in their care, from the flu – one of the most common and preventable diseases that can lead to hospitalization and death.
IU School of Medicine faculty, staff, students, residents and fellows may receive free flu shots from IUPUI Campus Health (IUPUI CH) (formerly IUPUI Health Services). Flu shots are expected to be available at IUPUI CH (Coleman Hall, Suite 100) starting Tuesday, Sept. 3.
In addition, IUPUI CH staff also will hold flu vaccination clinics at various locations on campus this fall. Flu vaccination clinic times, dates and locations will be announced in InScope.
IU Health is requiring flu vaccination for all team members and medical staff as a condition of employment or privileges, unless there is a documented medical contraindication or approved exemption.
All IU Health Medical Staff members should be vaccinated by Nov. 15 or submit an exemption form.
Exemptions will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The deadline to submit an exemption form is Monday, Sept. 2. Medical exemption requests should be submitted to IU Health Occupational Health Services.
IU Health OHS will offer vaccines to IU Health medical staff members at various locations and times. IU Health employees who choose to receive the flu shot outside these location must keep original documentation for the vaccination. If you choose not to vaccinated in an IU Health facility:
If you are a provider employed with Indiana University Health Physicians (IUHP) then:
- Submit Medical Exemption Request to Employee Health.
- Submit required documentation for vaccine administered outside of IUH to Employee Health.
If you are a provider not employed by Indiana University Health Physicians (IUHP) then:
- Submit Medical Exemption Request to IU Health North Associate Health or to the CVO.
- Documentation of vaccine administered outside of IUH Flu Vaccine Clinics can be emailed to iuhealthcvo@iuhealth.org.
Mandatory flu vaccination programs are based on recommendations by many national organizations, including the National Patient Safety Foundation, American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Physicians, Infectious Disease Society of America, Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America, Association for Practitioners in Infection Control and the American Hospital Association. In central Indiana, the Indianapolis Coalition for Patient Safety has formed a team of city hospitals to develop a standard policy for flu vaccination. The goal is to have a consistent policy for all hospitals in the greater Indianapolis area.
The IU Heath flu vaccination requirement for medical staff members is in alignment with current vaccination requirements for medical staff membership, such as annual TB monitoring, MMR, etc.
For further information, visit IU School of Medicine Flu Policy. IU Health employees may visit the IU Health Flu News page or email flunews@iuhealth.org.
