UM influenza vaccines available starting Nov. 2

It’s that time of year again! The University Health Service and Rady Faculty of Health Sciences are offering flu shots to any staff, student or member of the general public. Flu shots are free for anyone with a Manitoba health card. International students are also offered free flu vaccine regardless of insurance coverage.

To help alleviate additional burdens on the Manitoba health care system during the COVID-19 pandemic, Public Health strongly encourages every Manitoban to be vaccinated for influenza.

In line with this, the University Health Service (UHS), in partnership with Dr. Amanda Condon, Director of Immunization Services at the Rady Faculty of Health Sciences (RFHS), will be offering vaccination clinics to provide access to influenza vaccination to staff and students of the University of Manitoba as well as patients of UHS.

Flu Clinic (Fort Garry campus) – November 12 and 22
University Health Service

All employees and students of the University of Manitoba, as well as members of the public are invited to attend the following clinics for a seasonal influenza immunization:

Multi-purpose Rooms (MPR), second floor, UMSU University Centre

• Friday, November 12, 8:45 AM to 3:45 PM
• Monday, November 22, 8:45 AM to 3:45 PM

Please bring your Manitoba Health card, or out-of-province health card, Blue Cross card or Guard Me insurance card when you attend a clinic. Please wear a shirt that allows you to expose your upper arm. Immunizations will be provided by clinicians.

Appointment required: This flu immunization clinic is open to anyone who is eligible to be on campus. To book your appointment with University Health Service call the UHS office at 204-474-8411.

Flu Clinic (Bannatyne campus) – November 2 and 15
Rady Faculty of Health Sciences Immunization Program

All employees and students of the University of Manitoba, as well as members of the public are invited to attend the following clinics for a seasonal influenza immunization:

Skills Lab, second floor, Basic Medical Sciences Building

• Tuesday, November 2, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• Monday, November 15, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Please bring your Manitoba Health card or out-of-province health card when you attend a clinic. print and complete the attached consent form, and bring it with you to your appointment. If you do not have a printer or cannot bring the form we will have extra forms. 

Please wear a shirt that allows you to expose your upper arm. Immunizations will be provided by clinicians as well as supervised healthcare students.

Appointment required: This clinic is by appointment only, please sign up using this secure link.

Please show up as close as possible to your scheduled time to minimize numbers of individuals in attendance. You must wear a mask on campus. You can only access the campus using your UM staff or student ID card, swiping in at a designated entrance.

University Centre Pharmacy – Starting November 2 

University Centre Pharmacy is offering free flu shot clinics:

• Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. beginning November 2, 2021.

 No appointment is necessary. While quantities last.

See the pharmacy website for more information.

To make your visit as safe as possible:

At home, the day of your appointment, you must complete the online Shared Health COVID-19 self-assessment tool. If any of your responses are “Yes” please stay home, do not arrive for your appointment. If anyone at home is self-isolating due to symptoms, you may be required to self-isolate as well, unless you are exempt from this requirement.

Why should I get the flu vaccine?

Ten to twenty percent of the Canadian population becomes infected with influenza each year, resulting in over 10,000 hospitalizations and over 3,000 deaths.

Getting the flu vaccine every year is the best way to protect against seasonal influenza (the flu). When you get immunized, you also help protect others as well by reducing the spread of the influenza virus. This is especially important because some people are too young to get immunized or have medical conditions that leave them at risk of getting influenza even if they have already been immunized.

To mitigate additional burdens on the health care system during the COVID-19 pandemic, Public Health strongly encourages every Manitoban to be vaccinated for influenza.

The flu can seem like a common cold, but the symptoms of the flu are usually more severe. Fever, body aches, extreme tiredness and a dry cough are more common with the flu than with a common cold. Also, the flu is more likely to lead to serious problems like pneumonia, bacterial infections and hospitalization.

Other than a sore arm, the vaccine does NOT cause side effects such as fever, muscle aches, or respiratory illness.

You may also obtain an influenza immunization from one of the following options:

• Your own healthcare provider (e.g., family physician, nurse practitioner, pharmacist)
• Any WRHA Occupational Health units, for healthcare students and WRHA staff only; call the unit before attending 
• Public Health influenza clinics and offices.
• Most pharmacies (check with your local pharmacy)
• Walk-In Connected Care Clinics (WICC), or general walk-in clinics.

 UM Today Staff