- Is MIT Health offering flu immunizations this year?
- Is the flu vaccine free?
- What if I need a record of my vaccination?
- I need to file a medical or religious exemption to the flu vaccine. How do I do that?
- When should I get the flu vaccine?
- Will you offer an egg-free flu vaccine for individuals with egg allergies?
- Is the flu vaccine available as a nasal spray at MIT Health?
- What are the potential side effects of the flu vaccine?
- Do I need a flu immunization every year if I am wearing a mask and physically distancing from others?
- How many flu vaccinations do I need each year?
- Can I get the flu from the flu vaccine?
- Can I get the flu vaccine if I’m pregnant or breastfeeding?
- What kind of vaccine is offered?
- Past years’ vaccines were quadrivalent, but this year’s is trivalent. Is this year’s vaccine less effective? Can I get a quadrivalent instead?
- If I get sick, how will I know if I have the flu or COVID-19?
- How should we clean workspaces if someone in our area becomes sick with flu-like symptoms?
Is MIT Health offering flu immunizations this year?
The MIT Health flu clinics have concluded for the season. If you still need a flu vaccine, we suggest you get your flu immunization at a retail pharmacy, like CVS or Walgreens, at a flu clinic in your community, or from your primary care provider at MIT Health as part of a pre-existing appointment. All MIT-sponsored insurance plans allow you to get your flu vaccine anywhere Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts is accepted.
Is the flu vaccine free?
It depends on your insurance coverage. Your immunization will be billed to your health insurance. If you are on the MIT Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) or the MIT Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO+ Plan (for employees), you will not have to pay anything extra for the immunization. If you have a different insurance plan, you should check with your insurance company to find out if you will have an out-of-pocket cost for the vaccine.
What if I need a record of my vaccination?
If you need physical documentation of your immunization, ask a staff member at the clinic for a paper receipt. Or, if you’re an MIT Health patient, you can get documentation of your vaccination through our patient portal, HealthELife. You can also visit the state vaccine record database for information. Note: It can take up to several weeks for the information to be posted.
I need to file a medical or religious exemption to the flu vaccine. How do I do that?
MIT Health does not provide vaccine-exemption forms. If a particular organization is requiring that you get a flu immunization, ask that organization how to proceed with your vaccine exemption. MIT very strongly encourages all employees and students to get flu immunizations, but it is not required unless your specific employment role requires it.
When should I get the flu vaccine?
According to the Centers for Disease Control, “the exact timing and duration of flu seasons varies, but flu activity often begins to increase in October. Most of the time flu activity peaks between December and February, although significant activity can last as late as May.”
Getting the vaccine too early means your immunity can wear off before the season concludes, leaving you potentially more vulnerable to flu in the early spring months. Getting the vaccine too late can leave you unprotected when flu starts spreading.
Will you offer an egg-free flu vaccine for individuals with egg allergies?
If you are an MIT Health patient and believe you need an egg-free vaccine, you can make an appointment with your primary care provider or a local pharmacy such as CVS or Walgreens. Only a very limited number of egg-free vaccines are available at MIT Health, and they will be reserved for individuals with severe, documented egg allergies.
Is the flu vaccine available as a nasal spray at MIT Health?
No. MIT Health does not offer nasal-spray vaccines.
What are the potential side effects of the flu vaccine?
According to the CDC, the most common side effects may include:
Soreness, redness, and/or swelling at the injection site
Headache
Fever
Nausea
Muscle aches
Flu vaccine side effects are generally mild and tend to go away on their own in a few days.
Do I need a flu immunization every year if I am wearing a mask and physically distancing from others?
Yes. It is still advised that everyone who can get a flu immunization does so. Flu is always a dangerous disease, but it can be even more deadly when combined with the risks associated with COVID-19. And having a highly vaccinated population at MIT also protects individuals in our community who are unable to be vaccinated for medical reasons.
How many flu vaccinations do I need each year?
Adults will need just one vaccination. Children aged six months to nine years who are getting a flu vaccination for the first time will need two doses, spaced at least a month apart. Children are not eligible to attend the MIT flu clinics.
Can I get the flu from the flu vaccine?
No. The vaccine contains inactivated (dead) virus, which cannot cause an infection. However, the vaccine takes about two weeks to become fully effective, so it is always possible you could contract the flu during that time period. However, the vaccine itself cannot cause influenza.
Can I get the flu vaccine if I’m pregnant or breastfeeding?
Yes. Pregnant and breastfeeding individuals can receive the flu vaccine. Ask your personal clinician if you have concerns or questions.
What kind of vaccine is offered?
The 2025–26 flu vaccine offered at MIT is trivalent, protecting against two strains of influenza A (H1N1 and H3N2) and one strain of influenza B. The vaccines used at MIT Health do not contain thimerosal or any preservatives. High-dose vaccines are available for individuals aged 65 and older.
Past years’ vaccines were quadrivalent, but this year’s is trivalent. Is this year’s vaccine less effective? Can I get a quadrivalent instead?
No, this year’s vaccine was formulated to match the viruses that are expected to be active this year. Last year’s vaccine was also trivalent. This change happened because the B/Yamagata viruses, which were included in previous four-component (quadrivalent) flu vaccines, are no longer actively circulating and no longer need to be included in flu vaccines. Learn more.
If I get sick, how will I know if I have the flu or COVID-19?
The flu and COVID-19 have similar symptoms, so it is hard to know which illness you may have contracted. In fact, most sources refer to COVID-19 symptoms as “flu-like symptoms.” To be sure, use an over-the-counter rapid COVID-19 test, or call your primary care provider for advice.
How should we clean workspaces if someone in our area becomes sick with flu-like symptoms?
To prevent the spread of illness, disinfect commonly touched hard surfaces in the workplace by wiping them down with a household disinfectant according to directions on the product label. This includes countertops, doorknobs, telephones, copy machines, workstations, and bathroom surfaces. Studies have shown that flu viruses do not remain infectious on environmental surfaces for more than eight hours. Frequent hand washing is the best way to avoid infection from contaminated surfaces.