UMass Lowell is offering flu clinics to students once again, although the format is different this year. (Courtesy of UMass Lowell)
Cassandra Milnes
Connector Editor
Every year, UMass Lowell offers flu clinics to all students over the age of 18 to help reduce outbreaks of the seasonal flu. However, clinics this year, like everything else, are going to be different.
The biggest difference being that this year students must be vaccinated prior to December 31st to comply with Governor Baker’s Executive Order adding the seasonal flu shot for all college students with on-campus classes, residing on campus, or attending campus activities.
To attend even one on-campus event, a student must follow this rule and be vaccinated. This includes all full-time undergraduate and graduate students, as well as all part-time health science students.
Students with medical or religious obligations are exempted from this requirement. This new requirement is due to the goal to reduce flu-related illness and the overall impact of respiratory illness during the current pandemic.
Dr. Larry Madoff, Medical Director at the Department of Public Health’s Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences, explains that it is “more important now than ever to get a flu vaccine because flu symptoms are very similar to those of COVID-19 and preventing the flu will save lives and preserve healthcare resources.”
Once a student receives their flu vaccination, all documentation needs to be uploaded to their student health portal here: https://patient-uml.medicatconnect.com/
The UMass Lowell flu clinics are available to all UML community members over the age of 18. To be vaccinated, students must bring their UML ID and either their insurance cards to bill the insurance or $29 in cash, check, or credit card if they would like to pay out of pocket.
Due to covid-19 regulations, clinics are by appointment only and no walk-ins will be allowed. To sign up for an appointment, go to https://booknow.appointment-plus.com/106ky7ee/?&e_id=8753 and select seasonal flu shot.
Upcoming flu vaccine clinics:
Tuesday 10/27/2020
Tuesday 11/03/2020
Tuesday 11/17/2020
Wednesday 12/02/2020
If a clinic has less than 15 people signed up, it may be canceled. All clinics will be on the first floor of University Crossing. When attending a clinic, everyone will be required to wear a face covering and maintain proper social distance from others.
