Teach your body what to do, vaccinate against the flu

Penn State Health will be distributing flu shots starting on Monday, Sept. 24. See the complete schedule. Vaccinated employees will receive a sticker for their employee ID badge. Health care providers who decline vaccination and do not have a vaccination sticker on their ID badge will be required to wear a mask when within six feet of patients during inpatient and outpatient clinical encounters during influenza season.

Employees who receive the flu vaccine from their primary care physician or an outside health care organization must submit a copy of the proof of vaccine form to Employee Health to receive an ID badge flu sticker.

It is important to get a flu shot every year. It can keep employees and others from getting sick with the flu and reduce the risk of flu-associated hospitalization. Vaccination to prevent the flu is particularly important for people who are at high risk of serious complications from the flu.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a flu vaccine is needed every season because the body’s immune response from vaccination declines over time. Because flu viruses are constantly changing, the formulation of the flu vaccine is reviewed each year and updated as needed to keep up with changing flu viruses.

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