Message from the Provost

September 14, 2023

To protect the faculty, staff, students and patients of East Carolina University against the flu, as well as to prevent an increased burden on our health system still dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, we expect all faculty, staff and learners across ECU’s health sciences campus and Student Health Services (SHS) to be vaccinated against the flu by November 1, 2023. Exceptions may be granted for medical or religious reasons. During the fall and winter, with the increased prevalence of flu and other respiratory illnesses, voluntary masking is welcomed and encouraged in large group settings.

We each have an obligation to do our part to protect ourselves, our coworkers, our students, our patients and their families. This obligation still includes getting an annual flu shot.

Influenza vaccination is mandatory for all credentialed health care providers, CSS employees and SHS employees. Individuals who fail to meet the vaccination deadline of November 1 may face disciplinary action. Although not mandatory at this time, employees and students on the Health Sciences Campus who are not involved in direct patient care are strongly encouraged to still get vaccinated because they likely interact regularly with someone who is.

Employees and students who wish to seek an exemption for medical or religious reasons must submit a request through the approved process. Please visit the exemptions section at Comprehensive Influenza Protection Program for additional details. Requests will be thoroughly reviewed before an exemption is granted. Students seeking an exemption must contact Student Affairs in their respective college, school or department to initiate this process. Please be aware that the CDC no longer considers egg allergies to be a contraindication to receiving the influenza vaccine. New CDC recommendations require individuals who were granted exemptions last year to reapply for this year.

Influenza vaccinations can be obtained from any source selected by an employee or student, as long as documentation of vaccination is submitted through the approved process. You must provide documentation of the immunization and scan it to fluvaccine@ecu.edu, fax it to 252-744-2417 or mail it to ECU Office of Prospective Health, Mail Stop 640 Life Sciences Building 188, Greenville, NC 27834. Employees receiving their vaccine at one of our sponsored clinics will have their documentation shared with prospective health.

The following flu shot clinics for employees and their children are scheduled this fall:

10/3 FluFest, Health Science Campus Student Center, (9 am — 4 pm)
10/10 ECHI Conference Room A, (9 am — 4 pm)
10/17 School of Dental Medicine Auditorium 2312, (9 am — 4 pm)
10/24 FluFest, Main Campus Student Center, (9 am — 4 pm)

Pediatric nurses will be on site from 2 – 4 p.m. to vaccinate children of any age.

Banner ID number, insurance card and ECU 1 Card are required There is no cost to receive the vaccine if you provide a valid insurance card. Uninsured children and spouses of ECU employees will be offered flu shots at the price of $25 for regular and $60 for high dose. High dose flu shots will be offered to those ages 65 and older.

Additional details on the clinics and annual vaccination program can be found on this website: Comprehensive Influenza Protection Program. If you have additional questions after visiting the website, email them to fluvaccine@ecu.edu.

Thank you for your commitment to this important effort.

Dr. Robin N. Coger
Provost
East Carolina University