Flu vaccine clinic for hospital staff kicks off

The Office of Research Services and the Clinical Center will provide free flu shots to staff with a valid NIH identification badge from Sept. 27 through Nov. 5.

Similar to last year, the vaccines will be available by appointment only through an online registration system to help keep people safe. Walk-in immunizations are not be available.

The vaccination clinic location on the Bethesda main campus has changed to the FAES Terrace in Building 10. Access to the hospital is controlled and individuals must enter through the north, south or P1 parking entrances.

To protect patients, influenza vaccinations are mandatory for all NIH employees and contractors who have face-to-face contact with patients or who work in patient care areas. The Clinical Center's goal is 100% immunization by Monday, December 6, 2021.

In addition to the flu vaccine, the Office of Research Services plans to set up a COVID-19 booster clinic once it receives additional guidance from the Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

"The best way to protect yourself, your patients and your loved ones from viral disease is vaccination. It is safe and acceptable to receive your COVID-19 vaccination (initial series or booster shot) at the same time as your influenza vaccination," said Dr. Brooke Decker, Clinical Center's hospital epidemiologist.

The FAES terrace will have additional COVID-19 safety measures in place. Individuals must wear a mask and follow all physical distancing requirements while in the building.

Organizers ask that people arrive no more than 10 minutes before scheduled appointment time to avoid creating lines at the check-in area. The staff providing vaccines will also follow infection control procedures including mask wearing and hand hygiene.

NIH has ordered both high-dose and the regular quadrivalent vaccines for all flu shot sites. Staff ages 65 and older can receive the high-dose vaccine. A limited number of egg-free doses have been ordered and will only be administered to health care personnel with a documented egg allergy. Learn more about the high-dose flu shot.

Although the CDC supports the use of live attenuated influenza vaccine, also known as the FluMist, the NIH Immunization Clinic does not provide live vaccine. It may result in shedding of vaccine-strain virus from healthy vaccinated adults for up to seven days. Clinical Center direct patient care staff should avoid being immunized with a live vaccine, as direct patient care providers who receive the FluMist must be removed from patient contact for seven days post-immunization.

All teleworking employees in the Washington, D.C., area are encouraged to schedule an appointment at Shady Grove, 5601 Fishers Lane or the 6700B Rockledge locations and avoid the main campus. Extra dates and appointments have been added to those sites to accommodate additional staff. Information about parking at the Rockledge and Shady Grove locations is available at www.foiltheflu.nih.gov.

For directions, parking and to schedule your flu vaccine, visit www.foiltheflu.nih.gov.

2021 Immunization Schedule and Registration

- Maria Maslennikov