Flu Vaccination Information

This page was updated on Oct. 6, 2023 and includes the flu vaccination requirement for UC Davis students and employees for the 2023-24 academic year, as well as flu clinic information for students, faculty and staff on the Davis campus.

University of California flu vaccine requirement

According to the “Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Program” attachment within the UC Policy on Vaccination Programs, all covered students, faculty, other academic appointees and staff are required to get vaccinated against influenza or opt out using a form supplied by their location after receiving information about flu vaccine by December 1, 2023. Please note that Nov. 1 is the deadline for UC Davis Health employees.

While the requirement applies to those who will be living, learning or working on campus, all members of the campus community - and their families - are strongly encouraged to get the flu vaccination.

How to provide your flu vaccine information to campus

Please note that your Medical Clearances record will show as "non-compliant" until you either provide your flu vaccine information or complete the declination form as instructed below.

Employees and Students:

Log into Health-e-Messaging
Click on “Medical Clearances”
Click the green “Update” button in the “Influenza Immunization” section
Enter the date you received your flu vaccine and select “Flu whole (Influenza - Seasonal)” in the drop down menu.
Click “Done” and your information will be saved. You do not need to upload a copy of your flu vaccination record.

How to complete the Flu Vaccine Declination form to decline flu vaccination:

Employees and Students:

Log into Health-e-Messaging
Click on “Messages” then “New Message”
Select the option for “Influenza (flu) Declination” and click “Send” to submit the form.

Flu Vaccination Information

What are the benefits of getting the flu vaccine?

It can keep you from getting sick with the flu.
If you do get the flu after getting the flu vaccine, the symptoms are likely to be less severe.
Flu vaccination can reduce the risk of flu-associated hospitalization.
It helps protect the people around you who are more vulnerable to serious flu illness.
For more information on flu vaccine benefits, see the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) website.

Does the flu vaccine work?

According to the CDC, recent studies show that flu vaccines generally reduce the risk of flu illness by between 40% and 60%. This varies from person to person and season to season. Even if someone gets the flu vaccine and still gets the flu, several studies have shown that people who get the flu vaccine do not get as sick as people who do not get the flu vaccine.

For more information on the flu and flu vaccination this season, please visit the CDC Information for the 2023-2024 Flu Season and the CDC Influenza (Flu) Vaccine Information Statement.

Insurance coverage and access to flu shots

All health insurance plans cover influenza vaccinations, though they may place restrictions on where a person can receive the shot for free.

Students with the University of California Student Health Insurance Plan (UC SHIP) can access the flu vaccine at the Student Health and Wellness Center with 100% coverage.
Students without UC SHIP can call the number on the back of their insurance card to be connected to a healthcare provider or location where flu vaccines are covered by their plan. Students without UC SHIP can also obtain a flu vaccine at the Student Health and Wellness Center by paying a $35 fee ($15 visit fee plus $20 for the flu vaccine).
Any registered student can make an appointment via Health-e-Messaging to get their flu vaccine, regardless of insurance status.
Academics and staff on the Davis campus should contact their health care provider to learn where to get their flu vaccine. Due to limited supply, the Sacramento campus employee health vaccine clinic is only able to UC Davis Health employees. Faculty, staff and students are required to show a valid UC Davis Health badge to receive the vaccine.

Campus Flu Vaccine Availability for Students

Student Health and Counseling Services is currently offering flu shots for students. You can make a flu vaccination appointment in Health-e-Messaging. Flu shots are fully covered for students with school insurance (UC SHIP) and are available at a nominal fee for all registered students.

Flu Vaccine Clinics for Employees

In partnership with UC Davis Health, the Staff and Faculty Health and Well-being program is offering flu vaccination clinics on the UC Davis campus in fall 2023. To participate, you must be a current faculty, academic or staff member, over the age of 18 and must have received a flu vaccine in the recent past. See the Flu Clinic webpage for more details, including dates and locations.