The 2018–19 flu vaccine offered at MIT is quadrivalent, protecting against two strains of influenza A (H1N1 and H3N2) and two strains of influenza B.
Active flu strains are different each year, so even if you got a flu shot last year, you still need to get this year's vaccine. More information about this year's vaccine available from the CDC.
Eligible MIT community members (MIT Medical patients age 10+, and all employees, students, affiliates, and retirees) can get flu shots by coming to a walk-in flu clinic or by calling MIT Medical’s Flu Line at 617-253-4865 to make an appointment.
Flu clinics: Cambridge Campus
Our Cambridge Campus walk-in flu clinics are done for this year, but the vaccine is still available. If you haven’t yet gotten your shot this year, just call MIT Medical’s Flu Line at 617-253-4865 to make an appointment at MIT Medical.
Flu Clinics: Lexington Campus
Eligibility: Lincoln Laboratory employees, Lincoln Laboratory retirees, all enrolled family members of MIT Traditional Health Plan older than six months, all enrolled members of MIT High Deductible Health Plan older than six months, any enrolled family member of MIT Choice Health Plan if that individual is older than six months and has a primary care provider at MIT Medical.
November 20, 3:30 - 5 p.m. (MIT Medical/Lexington)
Pregnant patients
Pregnant patients may get a shot at an MIT Medical walk-in clinic or by calling MIT Medical’s Flu Line at 617-253-4865 to make an appointment. The vaccine given to pregnant patients is the exact same vaccine they receive at a walk-in clinic.
Pediatric patients (and their parents)
November 13–16, 5–6:30 p.m., by appointment ONLY, MIT Medical Pediatrics Service (E23-193). Call 617-253-1505 to make an appointment.
Parents who wish to receive their flu shot at the pediatric clinic must have a MIT Medical primary care provider.
Pediatric patients older than six months can also receive shots by appointment on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Call MIT Medical’s Flu Line at 617-253-4865 to make an appointment.
Please note: If this is the first time a child between the ages of 6 months and 8 years is receiving a flu vaccine, they will need two doses, one month apart.
Patients 65 and older
For patients 65 and older. MIT Medical recommends they receive the Fluzone High-Dose vaccine, which is trivalent, protecting against two strains of influenza A (H1N1 and H3N2) and one strain of influenza B with four times as much antigen as in the standard flu vaccine. The high-dose vaccine is only available to patients ages 65 and older.
Other places to get a flu vaccination
If you are ineligible to get a flu shot at MIT, you may be able to get one at:
- A retail pharmacy (you may be charged a fee)
- Your own healthcare provider
- A clinic in your hometown
- Your local department of public health
Pneumococcus vaccine
Since one of the most severe complications of influenza is the increased risk of developing bacterial pneumonia, pneumococcal vaccine (Pneumovax) is recommended for:
- Adults aged 65 or older
- Smokers of any age
- People with chronic medical conditions, such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, lung disease, and several others.
Another pneumococcal vaccine, Prevnar-13, is also recommended for persons over 65 and persons with certain immune system problems.
For more information, see "Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccine: What You Need to Know" or "Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine: What you need to know." To receive the pneumococcal vaccine, schedule an appointment with your primary care provider
