Health leaders nationwide are concerned about a twin epidemic of influenza and COVID-19 this fall that could overwhelm hospitals and health facilities.

UC President Michael Drake, MD, issued an executive order requiring all members of the UC community who work, live, or learn in a UC facility to receive a flu vaccine in order to help protect the UC community and reduce potential burdens on the health care system this flu season. The order allows for medical exemptions or accommodations for disability or religion.

All members of the UC community must be vaccinated or have an approved exemption by November 1, 2020, in order to access any UCSF facilities.

Dr. Drake strongly encourages flu vaccines for all members of the UC community who are working from home and other remote locations. Vaccines or an approved exemption will be required in order to access a UCSF facility.

If it is more convenient to get the shot from a local provider near your home, you can do so.

Please note that we cannot reimburse for outside flu vaccines, but all UC health plans cover flu shots at no cost to the member. For details on further options for free vaccinations under your health plan, please see the Occupational Health flu vaccination webpage. Documentation from any outside provider can be submitted to [email protected].

The UC Office of the President will accept exemptions and make accommodations for medical or disability or religious reasons. See the UC executive order.

Employees

Employees requesting a Medical Exemption must complete the UC Medical Exemption Request Form, with supporting information from their primary care provider, as well as a UCSF Declination Form. Please submit to Occupational Health Services at [email protected]. A doctor’s note alone, without supporting documentation, will not be considered sufficient support. You will receive a response within seven (7) days.

Employees requesting a Religious Accommodation should complete a Religious Accommodation Form and a Religious Declination Form and send to [email protected]. You will receive a response within seven (7) days.

• For staff and represented academics, contact LER with any questions at [email protected]. 
• For Faculty and non-represented Academics, contact Bonnie Johnson, Director, Academic Affairs at [email protected] with any questions.

Students

The UC student immunization policy has been amended to include influenza among the required vaccines. Student requests for exemptions will be adjudicated in accordance with the University of California Immunization Exemption Policy for students.

Students requesting a Medical Exemption should complete the Medical Exemption Request Form and submit it to the executive director of UCSF Student Health & Counseling Services by emailing [email protected] with subject line, "Medical Exemption Request."

Students requesting a Religious Accommodation should complete the Student Religious Accommodation Request Form and submit it to the executive director of UCSF Student Health & Counseling Services by emailing [email protected] with subject line, "Religious Accommodation Request."

 

The order applies to all UC faculty, staff and learners. Occupational Health flu outreach clinics have been scheduled at ZSFG, the BCH Oakland hospital, as well as other sites in the East Bay. Please consult the flu outreach clinics schedule for details.

All managers can view compliance statistics for their team and all others who roll up to them through HR Umbrella on the MyAccess site. Campus managers should follow the “Compliance Campus” link; Health managers can click on “Compliance”.

UCSF Occupational Health Services will be offering flu shots free of charge for all employees at multiple flu outreach clinics through October, as well as in Occupational Health Clinics. For the latest clinic schedules and other options, please visit Occupational Health Services flu vaccination webpage.  

You may also receive a flu shot through your UCSF primary care provider or a community flu vaccine provider, such as a pharmacy. Please note that we cannot reimburse for outside flu vaccines, but all UC health plans cover flu shots at no cost to the member. If you receive your vaccination from your UCSF primary care provider or a non-UCSF provider, please send a scan of your proof of vaccine to [email protected], showing your name, date, provider and the vaccine you were given, and either your date of birth or employee ID number that starts with "02".

Students can receive their flu shots either through the Occupational Health Services flu outreach clinics, their private physician, or a pharmacy. 

You may receive a flu vaccination from a non-UCSF provider, such as a pharmacy, if that is more convenient, but please note that UCSF will not reimburse the cost of a flu shot from outside providers. All UC employee health plans cover flu shots at no cost to the member. Please see this Occupational Health list of additional options for UC employees for free flu vaccines.

If you receive your vaccination from your UCSF primary care provider or a non-UCSF provider, please send a scan of your proof of vaccine to [email protected], showing your name, date, provider and the vaccine you were given, and either your date of birth or employee ID number that starts with "02".

Please submit documentation for any flu vaccines that are not obtained from a flu deputy, UCSF flu clinic, or in an Occupational Health clinic.

Please scan your receipt, showing your name, date, provider and the vaccine you were given, and send it to [email protected]. Please include your date of birth and/or your UCSF ID number that starts with "02."

Both iOS and Android smartphones have a scanning function that enable you to produce a professional document.

• To install on an iPhone or iPad, open Notes > Create a new note > Click on the Camera Icon or + sign > Click Scan Documents.
• For an Android phone, use the Google Drive app to do the same.

We do not have any Occupational Health sites in Marin County. However, all UC health plans cover flu shots at no charge to the member. Please consult the list of additional flu shot options from Occupational Health to identify options near you.

For UCSF Health, new hires will receive the flu vaccine as part of their Occupational Health onboarding, or they can provide documentation of receipt of vaccine from an outside provider.

For UCSF Campus, new hires should go to Occupational Health on their first day to either receive the vaccine or provide documentation from an outside provider.

Yes. All UCSF flu outreach clinics and Occupational Health clinics will provide stickers that can be affixed to your badge to show that you have received a flu shot. If you receive your vaccine off-site, you can obtain a sticker from an Occupational Health office by providing verification of your immunization.