Flu Vaccine and COVID-19 Booster Update

Dear DU Community,

New student orientation and classes have started bringing students, faculty and staff together on campus to launch another academic quarter. Our first fall weekend with cooler temperatures has arrived, filling the air with scents of pumpkin spice and beautiful Colorado sunsets. Fall also heralds the season for flu shots which, this year, coincides with the release of the new bivalent COVID-19 vaccine booster.

Flu Vaccine Clinics

As in the past two years, the University will require the influenza (flu) vaccine for all students, faculty and staff living, learning or working on campus. You must receive and upload proof of your influenza vaccination to your MyHealth portal or have an approved exemption no later than Dec. 15, 2022.  

Human Resources and Inclusive Community (HRIC) and the Health and Counseling Center (HCC) are teaming up once again to offer the flu vaccine free of charge to all students, faculty and staff. Flu shot clinics will be held in or around the Community Commons beginning in October and continuing in November. A schedule of the clinic dates will be posted on DU’s new Public Health website soon.

New Public Health Website Launched 

DU’s Public Health website has launched, replacing DU’s COVID-19 website. Along with the flu clinic schedule, the public health website highlights the University’s public health initiatives, offers links to resources, and includes public health protocols, communications, and the COVID-19 dashboard and alert levels.  

Update on COVID-19 Booster 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now recommends the new bivalent COVID-19 boosters for individuals age 12 and over (Pfizer) and age 18 and over (Moderna). HCC is offering COVID bivalent booster shots starting 09/30/22 and then the first Friday by appointment only through your myhealth account. We have also partnered with Safeway to bring bivalent booster clinics to DU in October and November for all students, faculty, and staff. Individuals must make an appointment through your myhealth account to receive a booster shot at these clinics. Due to the limited availability of the updated boosters, we understand that DU community members who are subject to the vaccination requirement may need additional time to remain up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccinations. Thus, we are continuing to follow the CDC guidelines, allowing those individuals until December 15th to meet the requirement of being up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccinations by uploading proof of vaccination or having an approved exemption.

Exemption Forms

As a reminder, at this time, DU offers exemptions to the COVID-19 vaccination requirement based on medical, religious and philosophical grounds. See the HCC website for instructions on uploading your vaccination documentation or seeking an exemption for influenza and the bivalent COVID-19 booster vaccines.  

Thank you for your continued attention to the University protocols as we work to promote the health and well-being of our community and minimize the impact caused by COVID-19 and the flu. If you have any questions, please email publichealth@du.edu. 

Sincerely,

Eric Hartman

Executive Director, Enterprise Risk Management

Therese Mashak

Public Health Project Manager, Enterprise Risk Management