Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa-choo! Hear that? (Sniffle, sniffle) Feel an itch in the back of your throat? (Cough, cough) It’s right around the corner (or it may already be here): Flu season!

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says flu activity in the United States most commonly peaks in January or February. Seasonal flu activity, however, can begin as early as October and continue through May.

To help full- and part-time faculty and staff prepare for this year’s influenza season, the Division of Human Resources (HR) is partnering with Occupational Medicine to provide on-campus flu shots at a discounted cost.

For $25 cash, employees can get a flu shot on Monday, Nov. 7, Tuesday, Nov. 8, or Tuesday, Nov. 15, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“Nearly 1,500 faculty and staff take advantage of the flu shot program every year,” says Suzanne Smith, health promotion and project administrator for HR’s Quality of Worklife department. “It’s just one of the many benefits we provide to help the Penn community maintain good health.”

Flu shots will be administered at three convenient locations—the School of Engineering and Applied Science, the Wharton School and the School of Nursing. Bring your PennCard and remember to wear clothes that provide easy access to your upper arm.  

Pre-registration is required. Employees can find their exact flu shot location when they pre-register online.

To pre-register, visit the HR online course catalog and review flu shot time slots and location options. Select your preferred time and date, and a full description will appear. Select the “Register For Course” icon at the bottom of the page and follow the prompts. A PennKey is required.

Faculty and staff can register up to the day before the date they select. But time slots fill up quickly so HR encourages employees to pre-register as soon as possible.

Staff and faculty can also receive a flu vaccine at one of three Student Health Service (SHS) clinics on Thursday, Oct. 13, Wednesday, Oct. 19, or Thursday, Oct. 27.

SHS flu shots cost $25 (cash only). No appointment is necessary.

For more information about flu shots, call 215-898-5116 or email suzsmith@upenn.edu.