Sep

Fight the flu! It begins with you.

The Office of Safety, Health and Environmental Management’s Occupational Health Services’ seasonal flu vaccination outreach for 2022 will begin on September 27. On average, Occupational Health Services provides nearly 3,000 shots annually across the Smithsonian. All employees, affiliated staff, official volunteers and contractors are strongly encouraged to get their free flu shot.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend a yearly flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against this serious disease. While there are many different flu viruses, the flu vaccine protects against the main flu strains that research indicates will cause the most illness during the flu season. The vaccine can protect you from getting sick from these viruses, or it can make your illness milder if you get a different flu virus.

OHS will be administering the 2022 – 2023 Quadrivalent formulation, which is comprised of four different flu strains available in Intramuscular and Intradermal routes. For individuals 65 years and older, OHS will have the Fluzone High‐Dose as recommended by the CDC. Pregnant women of all stages are eligible – however, they should check with their doctor prior to receiving the shot. Please note that family members of Smithsonian employees are not eligible to participate.

Please review the current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Vaccine Information Statement prior to attending one of the clinics. Informed consent will be signed at the time of vaccination with the Occupational Health Services health care provider. Any questions regarding the eligibility to receive a flu shot is covered in detail within SD 222 “Smithsonian Health and Wellness Services” which can also be found on the OSHEM website.

Occupational Health Services hopes that all managers and supervisors will encourage and support their employees who plan to take advantage of this free health promotion offering. The flu shot is not only a benefit for employees, it helps to ensure that Smithsonian staff remains productive and on task in carrying out our important mission.