Campus News

Flu Shots to be Mandatory for UK Students

Flu shot
Photo credit: Inside Creative House, iStock/Getty Images Plus.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 8, 2020) — University of Kentucky students who live on or come to campus will be required to receive a flu vaccination by Nov. 1.

The policy announced today is part of the university’s ongoing response to COVID-19 and is a recommendation from UK’s START team of clinicians, researchers and public health professionals.

Students who do not have prescription coverage to cover the cost of the flu vaccination will receive the shot for free. Students who already have received a flu vaccination will simply need to upload a copy of their proof of vaccination.

As part of this initiative, campus faculty and staff are strongly encouraged to receive flu vaccinations as well. As a reminder, UK HealthCare employees are required to receive a flu shot annually.

The student flu shot program will kick off with Big Blue Flu Clinic from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11, at the Gatton Student Center. Additionally, in partnership with Kroger Pharmacy, the university is greatly expanding the number of locations and opportunities for flu vaccinations for students, faculty and staff, including new locations at the President’s Pavilion at Kroger Field (near Gates 9 and 10), The 90 and Gatton Student Center beginning Oct. 18 and continuing through Oct. 31.

“Our guiding principle throughout the pandemic has been to ensure the health, safety and well-being of our campus community,” UK President Eli Capilouto said. “This is one more step in honoring that principle by helping to mitigate and manage the spread of the seasonal flu, which many experts fear will be even worse this year as we continue to grapple with COVID-19.” 

Here are the details of UK’s flu shot program: 

Vaccination Clinics Overview — Students

Students who wish to receive a flu vaccination at one of the on-campus flu shot clinics are asked to bring a copy of their prescription card with them (or a photo image of the front and back of the card), along with their student ID. If a student is uninsured, the university will cover the costs of the flu shot so students do not have to pay out of pocket.

On Oct. 11, University Health Service is hosting its annual Big Blue Flu Clinic in the Gatton Student Center Ballroom from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Students must have an appointment to receive their flu shot. To make an appointment for the Big Blue Flu Clinic, click here.

To see a full calendar of locations and times for student flu vaccination clinics and to make an appointment, visit go.uky.edu/flushot.

Students can make an appointment for a vaccination at University Health Service via the online MyUK portal or by calling 859-323-APPT. Appointments are available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Nov. 20. You must have a valid UK student ID to receive your flu shot.

Students who wish to get a flu shot at any Kroger pharmacy, can download a voucher here and redeem it at a location of their choice. Appointments should be made in advance by going here.

Students who have already received their flu shot may upload proof of vaccination at https://hcselfreport.uky.edu/.

Vaccination Clinics Overview — Campus Faculty and Staff 

If an employee is on a UK insurance plan, employees can get their flu shot for free at any of the following sites: vaccination clinics at go.uky.edu/flushot, any UK HealthCare pharmacy location ukpharmacy.org, any local pharmacy and or with their primary care provider. Employees should bring a copy of their employee ID and prescription insurance card. 

Faculty and staff who wish to get a flu shot at any Kroger pharmacy, can download a voucher here and redeem it at a location of their choice. Appointments should be made in advance and should bring a copy of their prescription insurance card.

Faculty and staff who are not on a UK or other health plan that fully covers the costs of a flu shot can receive a no-cost flu shot either at any Kroger pharmacy by downloading this voucher and redeeming it at a location of their choice or through a UK HealthCare pharmacy location ukpharmacy.org. Appointments should be made in advance and the employee should bring a copy of their prescription insurance card, if they have one. 

For more information about how to receive a flu shot, as well as updated flu shot clinic times and locations, visit go.uky.edu/flushot or email healthcorps@uky.edu or call 859-218-SAFE. 

As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.   

In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.