UCLA Flu Shot Information: Protecting Bruins During Flu Season

The Arthur Ashe Student Health and Wellness Center (The Ashe Center) is dedicated to providing quality healthcare and education to support UCLA students. As an appointment-based, ambulatory health clinic located on the UCLA campus, The Ashe Center offers various services, including vaccinations to protect students from illnesses like the flu. Students can also use MyStudentChart, a central hub for managing health records and communicating with the care team to view Ashe Center records.

Importance of Flu Vaccination

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone six months and older receive a flu shot annually, ideally in the early fall before the flu season begins. Getting vaccinated is the most effective way to prevent the flu and its potentially serious complications. For the 2025-2026 season, both the Influenza vaccine and the updated COVID-19 vaccine are available at The Ashe Center.

Flu Shot Options for UCLA Students

UCLA students have several convenient options for receiving their annual flu shot:

The Ashe Center

The Ashe Center provides flu shots to students. To schedule a flu shot, students can call their primary care office or 310-825-2631, or self-schedule in myUCLAhealth.

UCLA Health Clinics

UCLA Health offers flu vaccines through various channels:

Scheduled Appointments: If you already have a primary care appointment, you can request a flu shot during that visit.
Self-Scheduling: Log in to myUCLAhealth, select "Visits/Clinical Notes," then "Schedule an Appointment." Under "Tell us why you’re coming in," choose "Flu Vaccine Only." Select your preferred location and time.
Immediate Care Clinics: UCLA Health's immediate care locations offer extended and weekend hours for flu vaccinations, available by walk-in or appointment.
Community Flu-Shot Clinics: UCLA Health provides community flu-shot clinics for adults and children ages 5 and older. These shots may have a cost if not covered by insurance.

Pharmacies

Flu shots do not require a referral if administered at a local pharmacy.

Cost and Insurance

UCSHIP Students: Flu shots are free for students enrolled in the UC Student Health Insurance Plan (UCSHIP).
Non-SHIP Students: Flu shots cost $25 for students with a UCSHIP waiver.
UCLA Health 50-Plus Program: Flu shots are available at no cost to members of the UCLA Health 50-Plus program at participating UCLA locations or MinuteClinic walk-in medical clinics inside select CVS Pharmacy locations in Southern California. A 50-Plus membership card is needed at UCLA locations, and a voucher is necessary for MinuteClinics.
Fees are billed directly to the Bruin Bill, and students must present a valid Bruin Card to participate.

How to Comply with UC Immunization Requirements

The UC Immunization Policy requires all newly admitted incoming students to show proof of vaccination or immunity to MMR, pertussis, varicella, and to complete TB screening. Students age 21 and under must also have the meningococcal ACWY vaccine. Those at risk for TB must provide recent TB test results, and those with a history of TB must submit a chest x-ray taken within six months of starting at UCLA.

Although the seasonal influenza (flu) vaccine is recommended under the UC Immunization Policy, it is not required for compliance with the UC Requirements. However, students who choose to decline influenza vaccination must select "Declination" in the Immunization Clearance Questionnaire to fulfill this requirement. The deadline for flu vaccination or documented affirmative declination is November 1.

Step-by-Step Guide to Submitting Immunization Documentation:

Submit your Statement of Intent to Register SIR/SLR.
Gather all necessary information to complete the requirements online.
Sign into MyStudentChart using your UCLA Logon ID.
From the Home Page, click the Menu bar on the left-hand side.
Scroll down and choose Questionnaires.
Complete the Immunization Clearance, which also contains the TB screening questionnaire.
Answer all required fields and upload supporting immunization records, including images, PDFs, laboratory tests and/or chest x-rays. The Immunization Worksheet for Outside Providers may be submitted in lieu of original immunization records, but must be completed by your primary care provider.
Optional: Upload Immunization Worksheet for Outside Providers instead of records.
From Menu, select Immunization Clearance Report to check your status.

Medical and Religious/Personal Belief Exceptions

Students with a medical condition having a contraindication to the MMR, Varicella, Tdap, or Meningococcal conjugate vaccines will need their provider to complete the Medical Exception form. Likewise, students requesting a Religious/Personal Belief Exception will need to submit a Religious/Personal Belief exception request.

Once the form is completed, log into MyStudentChart, navigate to “Questionnaires” in the Menu drop-down list and choose the Medical Exception or Religious Exception option for the related immunization. Then, upload the supporting Exception form with your questionnaire submission. Note: Once you submit your Exception request, the status will update automatically in your Immunization Clearance Report (under Menu in MyStudentChart). It’s not necessary to contact our office - we’ll reach out only if your submission is selected for further review. All submissions are subject to audit, so please upload only appropriate documentation. Submitting unrelated or false files can delay processing or lead to disciplinary action.

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Additional Health Resources at UCLA

Narcan Distribution Project

The UCLA Narcan Distribution Project provides students and staff with free access to Narcan (naloxone), a medication used to treat opioid overdoses. This project aims to save lives and reduce the stigma surrounding substance use disorders.

UCSHIP

The UC Student Health Insurance Plan (UCSHIP) provides enhanced benefits to all enrolled UCLA students.

Patient Feedback

The Ashe Center encourages students to provide feedback on their patient experience.

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