The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that everyone 6 months of age and older get vaccinated against the flu. It is especially important for certain groups—children under the age of 5, adults 65 years of age and older, pregnant women, and people with chronic health conditions such as asthma, diabetes, and heart disease—to get the flu vaccine. These groups are at greater risk for serious complications from the flu, which can include bacterial pneumonia, bronchitis, ear and sinus infections, and dehydration.

People with a prior severe reaction to a previous flu vaccine and a history of Guillain-Barré Syndrome should consult their health care provider before being vaccinated. Those who have a moderate to severe illness with a fever should also wait to get the flu vaccine until their symptoms lessen.

The composition of flu vaccines has been updated. Flu vaccines for the U.S. 2024-2025 season will contain the following:

• A/Victoria/4897/2022 (H1N1)pdm09-like virus
• A/Thailand/8/2022 (H3N2)-like virus (updated)
• B/Austria/1359417/2021 (B/Victoria lineage)-like virus

All flu vaccines for the 2024-2025 season are anticipated to be trivalent in the United States. Trivalent flu vaccines are formulated to protect against three flu viruses (an A(H1N1) virus, an A(H3N2) virus, and a B/Victoria virus).

Both trivalent and quadrivalent flu vaccines are expected to offer similar protection against the flu viruses they protect against. B/Yamagata flu viruses have not circulated in the population after March 2020, so protection from trivalent and quadrivalent flu vaccines is expected to be similar. Click here for more information about trivalent flu vaccines.

The effectiveness of the flu vaccine depends largely on the similarity between the viruses in the vaccine and those in circulation. If the viruses in the vaccine and the ones in the community are closely matched, vaccine effectiveness is higher. If they are not closely matched, vaccine effectiveness can be reduced.

Health care workers must get a flu shot or formally decline the vaccination each year as a condition of continued employment. All others are strongly encouraged to get vaccinated to help prevent the spread of this potentially serious disease.

Anyone who provides direct patient care, enters patient rooms, and/or comes within six feet of patients in the course of their duties is considered a health care worker.

If you are a health care worker and you choose not to get vaccinated, you must formally decline the flu shot by completing this form. All other employees who choose not to be vaccinated are not required to submit the form. 

The flu shot is covered 100% by most insurance companies, including Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, and you should not experience any out-of-pocket costs if you have insurance. 

If you do not have insurance, you may experience minimal out-of-pocket costs. 

Employees will need to register through MyChart to ensure all vaccine administration costs are billed to your insurance. 

Yes. You will be able to create a new patient record or register as a guest in MyChart if you are not an established UTMB patient. 

Any employee who does not register in advance through MyChart may still get vaccinated at one of the hospital campus locations if you bring your insurance card. 

Because peer-to-peer vaccinations are not allowed, CMC employees will need to get vaccinated through your local provider or pharmacy. You will also need to complete an attestation form and provide proof of vaccination. The form should be submitted within 24 hours of being vaccinated.

If you do not live or work in the UTMB clinical service area, you are encouraged to get a flu shot from your local provider or pharmacy. Anyone who receives a flu shot at a non-UTMB facility is asked to complete an attestation form and provide proof of vaccination. The form should be submitted within 24 hours of being vaccinated.

No. UTMB will not provide COVID boosters as a part of this year's vaccination program. COVID boosters can be scheduled through MyChart or administered during a scheduled clinic appointment, if available. If you do not live or work in the UTMB clinical service area, you are encouraged to contact your local provider or pharmacy for availability.