No, if you are working 100% remotely, as defined by your work location in Workday, you are not required to have the flu vaccine. However, if you are in a hybrid position or if you plan to spend any time on a WashU campus, the flu vaccine will be required.
Login into Workday and click on your Profile Icon in the top left corner. Click on View Profile and review the Job Details section. Remote employees Location’s is listed as Remote followed by the state in which you reside. As an example, a remote Missouri employee would be listed as “Remote – Missouri”. If your location is designated as Remote, you do not need the flu vaccine this year.
If you have a physical WashU address as your work location, you are required to get the flu vaccine and submit documentation by the deadline to remain in compliance with this year’s flu vaccine policy.
You will need to discuss your work location with your supervisor. If your supervisor confirms and approves your remote work location, your departmental HR partner will need to update the location in Workday.
If you are not working on campus, you are not required to get the flu vaccine. However, if you plan to be on-campus and work, you will be required to get the vaccine to be back on-campus.
Vaccination proof that was received on or after Sept. 1, 2023, will be accepted. Yes, if you received your flu vaccine from an off-site location, such as a location pharmacy or your primary care physician’s office, after Aug. 31, 2023, you can submit your documentation in ReadySet to remain in compliance with the mandatory flu vaccine policy.
Washington University covers the cost of employee flu shots through several ways. If you are enrolled in a university medical plan, your flu shot is covered at 100%. Note, however, that if you see your medical provider for another health concern other than a flu shot, your provider may charge for an office visit. We recommend you contact your healthcare provider in advance to discuss how to obtain your annual flu shot.
Call UnitedHealthcare member services at 800-382-2599 and provide WashU’s group number: #702111. You can also log in to your account at myuhc.com to order a new card.
Flu shot documentation is tracked in a HIPAA-compliant system maintained by Occupational Health and separate from your employee record.
Yes. Talk to your supervisor about an appropriate time for you to get your flu shot.
Your ReadySet account will indicate if you’ve been approved for a permanent medical exemption. This is indicated in the Results section. If you have a permanent approved medical exemption from a previous year, you will still need to complete the survey in ReadySet.
If you do not have a permanent approved medical exemption from a prior year, you will need to participate in the normal exemption process.
No, you will need to apply for a 2023 flu vaccine exemption, regardless of your COVID-19 vaccine status.
Yes, religious exemptions are only valid for one year and have to be submitted for each vaccine offered.
The CDC says people 65 years and older can receive any flu vaccine approved for use in that age group with no preference for any one vaccine over another. There are vaccines designed for older adults to elicit a stronger immune response to promote higher antibody production. You should discuss the best option for you with your healthcare provider.
This year we are offering, FLUAD Quadrivalent which is a standard dose, inactivated influenzas (flu) vaccine, manufactured by Seqirus that contains an adjuvant.
It is manufactured using an egg-based process (like most flu vaccines), and includes an adjuvant called MF59. (An adjuvant is an ingredient added to a vaccine that helps create a stronger immune response to vaccination.) FLUAD Quadrivalent is only approved for use among people 65 years and older, who often have a lower protective immune response after flu vaccination compared to younger people.
Although you may experience a mild and temporary fever after you receive the flu vaccination, this does not mean you have the flu. In fact, the flu vaccination does not give you the flu. The viruses in the flu shot are killed (inactivated).
Soreness, redness, and swelling where shot is given, fever, muscle aches, and headache can happen after influenza vaccine. These side effects do not mean that you have the flu.
No, all vaccines at WashU Occupational Health are preservative and latex free.
Yes. In fact, vaccination with the inactivated or recombinant vaccine is recommended for women who will be pregnant during the influenza season. Pregnant women are at increased risk for serious medical complications from influenza. In addition, vaccination of the mother will provide protection for her newborn infant from influenza during the first 6 months of life. Women who are breastfeeding may be vaccinated.
Supervisors can review the status of their direct reports from their own ReadySet account. All supervisors are required to monitor their direct reports and ensure that they are in compliance.
After your vaccine is complete, complete the survey and upload your vaccine documentation in your ReadySet account.
- Login to your ReadySet account and go to the ‘My Health’ tab
- Choose ‘Health Surveys’ from the side navigation. If your survey status is complete, go to step 5.
- Select ‘Seasonal Flu Immunization Survey’
- Choose: ‘I ALREADY RECEIVED the seasonal flu vaccination and I can provide documentation’ and complete survey.
- Choose ‘Documents’ from the side navigation and ‘Upload Document’.
Retain a copy of your vaccine documentation that includes your name, type of vaccine and the date administered. Examples of acceptable documentation are your customer receipt or your Vaccine Administration Record.
Fill out the ReadySet survey
- Login to your ReadySet account and go to the ‘My Health’ tab
- Choose ‘Health Surveys’ from the side navigation
- Select ‘Seasonal Flu Immunization Survey’
- Choose: ‘I AM REQUESTING AN EXEMPTION from the seasonal flu vaccination for medical or religious reasons’ and complete survey.
Next, submit exemption form
- After the survey is complete, print out and submit the forms found in the WashU Flu Shot Policy.
- Once you have submitted your exemption form and received an approval letter, you will need to upload your approval letter as documentation to your ReadySet account.
To print a copy of your proof of vaccination:
- Login to your ReadySet account
- Go to the ‘My Health’ tab
- Choose ‘Test Results’ and ‘Results’ from the side navigation
- Select the Results you want to print. For example ‘Seasonal Flu Vaccination Record’
- Select the print icon at the top.
Getting a flu vaccine will not protect against COVID-19, however flu vaccination has many other important benefits. Flu vaccines have been shown to reduce the risk of flu illness, hospitalization and death. Getting a flu vaccine this fall will be more important than ever, not only to reduce your risk from flu but also to help conserve potentially scarce health care resources.
At this time, we are not requiring the COVID-19 booster for WashU employees.
Please note: Occupational Health does NOT have a supply of COVID-19 booster shots at this time. Employees should find an external retail pharmacy to administer any necessary COVID-19 booster vaccine.
Questions?
For additional information, please contact the Occupational Health Services team at fluvaccine@wustl.edu.