What You Need To Know About This Year's Flu Vaccine Clinics

Don’t wait until the last minute to get your required flu vaccine! The earlier you get it, the sooner you will be protected.

Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself from getting sick. While you can still get the flu after getting vaccinated, you are less likely to get severely ill. It can also reduce the risk of hospitalization. 

All employees who do not receive a flu vaccine will be required to mask during flu season, beginning Nov. 1, 2026, through April 1, 2027*. Employee Health will round through the end of October to offer the flu vaccine. The vaccine will still be available at Employee Health clinics after October. Full rounding schedules by location can be found on the Influenza hub. 

If you receive a vaccine outside of Employee Health or a Carilion retail pharmacy, you will be a "patient" instead of an "employee" and your insurance will be billed. In order to ensure that the vaccine is on your employee record, you need to log in to Workday and upload your individual off-site documentation by Nov. 1. Flu vaccine documentation will not be accepted by the HR Service Center or Employee Health.

Self-administered FluMist process: If you want the self-administered FluMist vaccine as an option, you will need to bring the FluMist with you to an Employee Health clinic for the Employee Health nurse to observe and officially document your self-administration. Employee Health staff will not administer the vaccine for you. Any documentation of a self-administered flu vaccine that is submitted through Workday will be rejected.

In addition to getting your flu vaccine, you can further protect yourself and help stop the spread of germs by:

• Washing your hands frequently using soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer
• Avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth
• Cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces and objects
• Staying home if you’re sick

If you have questions, contact the HR Service Center at 800-599-2537 or HRServiceCenter@carilionclinic.org.

* The period for masking could be extended beyond April 1, depending on flu activity at that time.