To promote employee health, West Virginia Universitys Employee Wellness Program is partnering with University Health Associates and the Department of Family Medicine at WVU to offer four flu and pneumonia vaccine clinics this month on the Morgantown campus.

Employees insured by one of WVU s insurance options (PEIA, Carelink, The Health Plan or Advantra Freedom) can receive the flu vaccine and the pneumococcal vaccine for free. The pneumonia shot is only available to those who have not previously received the pneumococcal vaccine, and the pneumococcal booster vaccine is not available.

The clinics are available to WVU employees, spouses, dependent family members 9 years or older and retirees covered by the above-mentioned insurance agencies. Employees with other insurance coverage are encouraged to inquire with their provider about cost reimbursement.

Clinics for employees working on the main campus:

Wednesday, Oct. 22

Prete Building (third-floor conference room), 8:30-10:30 a.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 22

  • Mountainlair (Vandalia Lounge), 12:30-3:30 p.m.

    Thursday, Oct 30

Waterfront Place (Room 5117), 8:30-11 a.m.

Thursday, Oct 30

National Research Center for Coal and Energy (Room 127), 12:30-2:30 p.m.

No appointments are necessary, but bring insurance card for processing.

NOTE : These vaccination clinics are also open to WVU students and the general public at the following rates: flu shot, $20; pneumococcal vaccine, $30. Payment options: cash, check, credit card, Medicare and Medicaid are all accepted.

Clinics for employees of WVU Health Sciences, WVU Hospitals and University Health Associates are available at http://intranet.hsc.wvu.edu/ .

*Information on student vaccinations:

Flu shots are available for students at a cost of $15, plus $10 co-pay, at Student Health Services by appointment or for $15 at the WVU Student Recreation Center Oct. 22 from 3-7 p.m., with student ID. Students may also attend any of the main campus locations (listed above) and receive flu shots for $20 and pneumococcal vaccines for $30.

  • WVU Healthcare community offerings:

Friday, Oct. 17

WVU Cheat Lake Physicians will provide flu vaccines at the WVU Health Expo Oct. 17 from 8-11 a.m. and 4-7 p.m. at the Morgantown Mall. The cost of the vaccine is $25, which can be paid by cash or check. Vaccines are free with a Medicare card. Patients must be over the age of 8 to receive the vaccine.

Childrens clinics:

The WVU Pediatric and Adolescent Care Clinic at the Physician Office Center will offer special flu shot clinics on Thursdays during October from 4-6:30 p.m., Fridays from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. (except football Saturdays). Children up to 8 years of age who havent had the vaccine will need two shots administered one month apart. There is a fee for the shot. Please call the Pediatric and Adolescent Care Clinic at 304-598-4835.

For more information on these WVU Healthcare-sponsored clinics, contact Bonnie Deal, Department of Family Medicine, 304-598-6904.

Flu virus

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The flu virus can spread from person to person when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Droplets containing the virus are propelled through the air and may land on a co-worker or on surfaces another person touches.

Kimberly Zaph, WVU Wellness Program manager, encourages employees to wash their hands frequently. She also recommends a healthy diet and physical activity to keep the immune system functioning properly.

The flu shot does not contain living viruses, so it cannot cause a person to get the flu. But, if a persons immune system is compromised, he or she may have symptoms that can become exacerbated from receiving the flu shot. Contact your personal physician to determine what is best for your health.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, approximately 36,000 people in the U.S. die from the flu each year, and more than 200,000 require hospitalization,Zaph said.We all need to be proactive and protect ourselves and our loved ones from this contagious illness.