Deadlines for COVID-19 and flu vaccine compliance
Infectious Diseases Management Team
What you need to know:
- Deadline for COVID-19 vacccine compliance for faculty and staff is Nov. 1
- No action required for those who have previously uploaded proof of primary series and booster or requested an exception
- Bivalent booster strongly recommended for all who are eligible, including those who are already boosted`
- Revised UC Vaccine Policy also requires all students, faculty and staff to receive or opt-out of influenza vaccine by Nov. 1
- UCLA Health is offering COVID-19 and flu vaccine clinics Oct. 3 – 16 for faculty and staff. Students can obtain COVID-19 and flu vaccines from the Ashe Center
Dear Bruin Community:
In alignment with the recently revised UC Vaccination Policy (PDF), all UCLA students, faculty and staff are required to have received a primary series of COVID-19 vaccinations, as well as a booster shot, in order to live, learn and/or work on UC properties. The policy also requires these populations to receive or opt out of the annual influenza (flu) vaccine by Nov. 1, as described below.
COVID-19 vaccinations
Per the revised policy, UC campuses must establish an ongoing COVID-19 vaccine compliance schedule, and the annual UCLA deadline to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination and booster (if eligible) or to request an exception is approaching. Both actions may be done via the UCLA COVID-19 Action Center.
The deadline for faculty and staff is Tuesday, Nov. 1. Those who have previously submitted proof of primary vaccine series and booster, and those who have already received an approved exception, do not need to take any further action to be considered compliant with the policy. However, those who have not yet submitted proof of vaccine and booster (if eligible) or requested an exception must do so using the UCLA COVID-19 Action Center.
The deadline for students to comply with this requirement was Saturday, Oct. 1. Students have already received communications regarding this deadline directly from the UCLA Arthur Ashe Student Health & Wellness Center.
Those scheduling appointments for COVID-19 booster shots will receive a CDC recommended bivalent vaccine (for ages 12 and older) targeting both the original strain of the virus, as well as the BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron subvariants that are predicted to continue circulating this fall and winter.
Although UCLA does not require those who are already boosted to receive the newest bivalent vaccine, this booster is highly recommended due to its ability to combat multiple strains of COVID-19. It is recommended that you get an updated bivalent booster at least two months after your last COVID-19 vaccine (either the final primary series dose or last booster). This is regardless of how many boosters or which type of vaccine(s) you got in the past. See LACDPH COVID-19 Vaccine Schedule (PDF) for details.
Flu vaccinations
In addition, flu season has arrived. The CDC recommends that all individuals, except those who have medical contraindications, receive an annual vaccination to protect against the flu. Per the revised UC Vaccination Policy (PDF), students, staff and faculty who are learning, living or working on its campuses are required to receive or opt out of an annual flu shot.
The UCLA deadline to attest or decline the flu vaccination for 2022–23 is Tuesday, Nov. 1.
Students
To acknowledge that you’ve received the flu vaccine or to state your decision to decline the flu vaccine, go to the UCLA Immunization Requirements website and sign in to the Ashe Center Patient Portal.
Once you are logged in, from the homepage, click “Complete My Immunization Requirement.”
Students who do not have permission to access the Ashe Patient Portal, must submit influenza compliance through the UCLA COVID-19 Action Center.
Faculty and staff
To acknowledge that you’ve received the flu vaccine or to state your decision to decline the flu vaccine, proceed with the following steps:
- Navigate to the UCLA COVID-19 Action Center
- Click on the green button “Flu Vaccine Verification” at the top of the page
- Select your UCLA affiliation
- Enter your Single Sign-On login credentials and follow the prompts
Where to get vaccinated
Students: Ashe Center
COVID-19 and flu vaccinations are available by scheduling an appointment at the Ashe Center.
Faculty and staff: UCLA Health Vaccine Clinic
COVID-19 and flu vaccination clinics will be held at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center and UCLA Health Calabasas Primary Care from Oct. 3-16. Visit the UCLA Health Vaccine Clinic Dates page to choose a day, time and location for your appointment.
If you are receiving a COVID-19 bivalent booster at the same time, remember to bring your vaccination card.
Walk-in opportunities may be available, but are not guaranteed.
Scheduling an appointment with your personal health care provider
Students, faculty and staff may also schedule appointments for COVID-19 and flu shots with their personal health care providers or by making an appointment through MyTurn or by visiting a local walk-in clinic.
Flu vaccination vouchers
UC employee and student health plans cover flu vaccination without copays. Employees may also obtain a free flu vaccine voucher (PDF) valid at CVS and Target pharmacies. Non-exempt staff can use up to four hours of paid release time to get the flu vaccine.
Note: Those who work in UCLA Health clinical areas (including medical, dental and nursing clinics) will receive communications directly from UCLA Health regarding COVID-19 and flu vaccine compliance dates.
UCLA PreK-12 (including early care and education centers, UCLA Lab School and Geffen Academy) will communicate separately regarding guidance on COVID-19 and flu vaccine protocols. For UCLA Extension students, these vaccine policy deadlines apply to only those in concurrent enrollment.
With COVID-19 and flu viruses circulating in tandem, getting vaccinated is a critical step to reduce the strain on our vital health care systems, and to support the health and safety of our communities.
We thank you for your continued understanding and cooperation as we head into a busy fall quarter and prepare for the winter holiday season.
Sincerely,
Tim Groeling
Professor, Department of Communication
Co-chair, Infectious Diseases Management Team
Michelle A. Sityar
Chief of Staff, Administration
Co-chair, Infectious Diseases Management Team
