FAQ: Flu

Is MIT Health offering flu immunizations this year?

Yes, but flu clinics on campus and at Lincoln Laboratory will be only for ages 18+ and BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. There will be no walk-in appointments available, and all appointments must be made 48 hours in advance. High-dose vaccines will be available for individuals aged 65 and older. 

When and where are the 2025 MIT Health flu clinics?

Campus: The MIT Health campus flu clinics have concluded. 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 an existing appointment. All MIT-sponsored insurance plans allow you to get your flu vaccine anywhere Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts is accepted.  

Lincoln Laboratory: Flu vaccine will be available to Lincoln Laboratory personnel Monday–Thursday, 9 a.m.–4 p.m., October 20–23, in AC-120 and AC-122, near the cafeteria.

Do I need an appointment?

Yes. You must make an appointment 48 hours in advance. There are no walk-in appointments. No exceptions.  

How do I make an appointment for my flu immunization?

Making an appointment for the flu clinic is a two-step process. You will need to select a date and time for your immunization first. Then, three days before your immunization time slot, you will need to provide us with your health insurance information or verify what we have on file, if you are a current MIT Health patient. 

All patients MUST provide current health insurance information to receive their vaccination, and the fees associated with your immunization will be billed to your insurance. There will be no exceptions. 

Note: Flu vaccines are fully covered for students on MIT SHIP and for individuals who are on MIT-sponsored insurance plans.

Step 1: Go online and select the date and time you would like your immunization. You must make your appointment 48 hours in advance.  There will be no walk-in appointments this year.

The MIT Health campus flu clinics have concluded. 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 an existing appointment. All MIT-sponsored insurance plans allow you to get your flu vaccine anywhere Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts is accepted.  


Lincoln Laboratory appointments are currently fully booked. Check back at a later date for additional availability or cancellations.

Step 2: Three days before your appointment, you will get a text message from 75442 or an email from MIT Health asking you to provide or verify your health insurance information. This is a required step and must be completed before your appointment.

You must provide your insurance information (or confirm the information we have on file) at least 48 hours before your appointment. If we do not have your insurance information 48 hours before your appointment, your appointment will be canceled, and you will need to book a new appointment to get your vaccination.

Finally, you must complete the entire registration process, which includes filling out consent forms. We cannot process your flu immunization appointment unless you fill out all the forms and answer every question.  

How do I make changes or cancel my appointment?

Go online and use the MIT Health Digital Navigator to cancel or make changes to your appointment.  

Can I make flu immunization appointments for family members?

Yes, but only for the campus clinics in E23 and only if they are eligible. Children younger than 18 can only receive their vaccinations in MIT Health’s Primary Care service, or at a local pharmacy, and are not eligible to attend the clinic. Individuals between 18 and 19 years of age can come to clinic, but we will give those individuals a vaccine provided by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (Mass. DPH). Mass. DPH covers vaccines for individuals younger than 19. 

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.   

Who is eligible to get a flu immunization at the campus flu clinic?

Flu immunizations are available by appointment only to MIT affiliates, including: 

  • Enrolled students, living on or off campus   

  • All non-students living on campus, including family members ages 18 and older (children younger than 18 must get their vaccinations with their primary care provider, at a local pharmacy, or at a community flu clinic; no pediatric vaccines will be administered at the flu clinic)

  • All MIT employees and contractors with an MIT ID   

  • MIT retirees and spouses (Note: Medicare Advantage Plans are not accepted at MIT Health.) 

     

Also eligible are:

  • All MIT Health patients older than 18 (Children younger than 18 must receive their vaccinations at MIT Health’s primary care service, at a local pharmacy, or at a community flu clinic. They cannot come to the clinic.)

  • Anyone older than 18 who is covered by an MIT-sponsored employee health plan 

  • Anyone covered by the MIT Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) 

Who is eligible to get a flu immunization at the Lincoln Laboratory clinic?

Flu immunizations are available by appointment only to current, badge-holding Lincoln Laboratory personnel, regardless of where they get their healthcare. Family members who are MIT Health patients can make immunization appointments at MIT Health’s Lexington Care Center or at the campus clinic, or they can get their flu vaccines at a retail pharmacy such as CVS or Walgreens. With an MIT-sponsored insurance plan, you can get your flu vaccine anywhere Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts is accepted. Note: Lincoln Laboratory appointments are currently fully booked. Check back at a later date for additional availability.  

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?

The MIT Health flu clinics are timed for the beginning of flu season to help maximize your protection.   

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?

There will be no egg-free vaccines available at the MIT Health clinics. 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 clinics?

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 the MIT Health flu clinic 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.