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Flu Vaccination Information

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Foil the flu with Mask


Foil the Flu

Flu Vaccine Protects You, Your Patients and Your Family.

Foil the Flu, the annual seasonal influenza immunization program for NIH staff, begins on September 30 and ends November 8, 2024​. 

The best way to reduce the risk of getting the flu is to get vaccinated each year.​

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Vaccine Eligibility & Requirements

  • All staff with a valid NIH identification badge are eligible to receive the flu vaccine for FREE and are encouraged to be immunized against the flu.  
  • All staff who have patient contact, including employees and contractors, are required to get immunized each year. For more information on this requirement​, view the Healthcare Personnel​​​​​​​​ section below. 


2024 Immunization Schedule and Registration

The vaccine will be provided by appointment only. Please schedule an appointment through the Clinical Center Scheduling System. Walk-in immunizations will NOT be available. 

You must be on the NIH network and logged onto VPN to access the registration site. If you are unable to access the registration website, please contact the Occupational Medical Service (OMS) at (301) 496-4411 or by email at 
OMSfluclinic@mail.nih.gov​. 

View 2024 Immunization Schedule  ​​

Locations​

This year's clinic locations include the following sites:

​​​Site
​Address
​Directions & Parking
​Building 10
​Building 10, CRC 7th Floor Atrium, East Side​
View Map
​Fishers Lane
​​5601 Fishers Lane
Rockville, MD 20852
Garden Room 1 (LD20)

​Rockledge
​6700B Rockledge Drive
Suite 1100
Bethesda, MD 20817
View Map​ 
(includes parking instructions)
​Shady Grove
​9609 Medical Center Drive
Room 2W910/912
Rockville, MD 20850
​Parking garage located directly across from building entrance. Garage is open and free to NIH staff.​
​Poolesville
(onsite staff only)​
​16701 Elmer School Road
Building 103 (Room TBD) 
Dickerson, MD 20842
​BRC
​251 Bayview Boulevard
3rd Floor Atrium Lobby
Baltimore, MD 21224
​Harbor Hospital
(onsite staff only)​
​3001 S. Hanover Street
5th Floor (Room TBD)
Baltimore, MD 21225​​


Individuals Age 65 and Older 

​NIH staff age 65 and older are eligible to receive a high-dose vaccine that stimulates a stronger immune response. People age 65 and older tend to develop lower levels of protective antibodies with a traditional dose vaccine. The high-dose vaccine selected for use in the NIH immunization campaign, Fluzone® High-Dose, remains egg based. However, based on the new recommendations for the 2023-2024 season, patients 65 years and older who have an egg allergy may receive this vaccine. ​Flucelvax® is also egg free and would be a reasonable alternative for older patients if Fluzone High-Dose is unavailable at the time of vaccination.​​​​

​​

​​​​​Hea​lthcare Personnel​​

​All NIH staff who have direct contact with Clinical Center patients must be immunized against seasonal flu every year. If you have direct contact with CC patients, you may meet the immunization requirement by getting vaccinated at the NIH, providing OMS documentation of vaccination received in the community, or receiving an exemption for medical or religious reasons. Additional information on this requirement can be found below. ​

​Options for Healthcare Personnel
​​​Option
Directions
​​Receive flu vaccination at NIH
​Register for an appointment. Once you receive your vaccination, your compliance will be recorded.
​​Receive flu vaccination outside of NIH​
​​If you receive your flu vaccine in the community, please save an electronic or physical copy of your vaccination record. You will need to submit documentation online or by delivering a hard copy to​ the OMS office in Building 10, Room 6C306.

​​Submit medical or religious declination request

​Any staff required to participate in Foil the Flu who declines to be vaccinated against flu must provide a valid reason for declination by submitting a religious or medical declination form. ​

The religious​ or medical​ declination form should be submitted online or by delivering a hard copy to the OMS office in Building 10, Room 6C306. An egg allergy is no longer a contraindication to receiving the flu vaccine.​​


Permanent medical declinations (e.g., Guillain-Barre Syndrome, severe allergic reaction to
a previous influenza vaccine, etc.) need to be provided only once. Staff who previously provided written documentation of permanent medical contraindication
will receive an email exempting them from this requirement.



​Contact

If you have questions about the influenza vaccine, please contact the Hospital Epidemiology Service at (301) 496-2209 or by emailing od_hes@mail.cc.nih.gov or contact Occupational Medical Service at (301) 496- 4411 or by emailing  OMSfluclinic@mail.nih.gov.   ​

​Resources