As fall approaches, flu season is not that far away, and it’s already time to take precautions to stay healthy. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, getting the annual flu vaccine is the first and best available way to protect yourself from flu and its potential complications.

For University of Delaware students, flu vaccine clinics will be offered every Friday, beginning Oct. 5, at Student Health Services in Laurel Hall. Before the clinics begin, students can call 302-831-2226 to schedule an appointment.

The cost of the vaccine is $22. Students with the UD Student Insurance Plan will have the charge billed directly to Highmark. Students without the UD plan will have the charge billed to their student account and will be offered an itemized bill to submit to their insurance plan. Student Health Services may also submit billing to most Blue Cross Blue Shield and Aetna plans.

In addition, UD’s Nurse Managed Primary Care Center on the STAR Campus in Newark will offer flu clinics for the general public, as well as UD faculty and staff, from Sept. 27 through Nov. 8.

Clinics are scheduled

• Thursday, Sept. 27, noon-3 p.m.;
• Tuesday, Oct. 2, 8-11 a.m.;
• Tuesday, Oct. 9, 9 a.m.-noon;
• Wednesday, Oct. 10, 4-7 p.m.;
• Monday, Oct. 15, 8-11 a.m.,
• Thursday, Oct. 18, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.,
• Wednesday, Oct. 24, 4-7 p.m.,
• Thursday, Oct. 25, noon-3 p.m.,
• Thursday, Nov. 1, 8-11 a.m. and
• Thursday, Nov. 8, noon-3 p.m.

The Nurse Managed Primary Care Center is located in at the STAR Health Sciences Complex, Suite 130, 540 South College Ave. To make an appointment, all 302-831-3195. Individuals are asked to please bring their insurance cards.

UD employees are encouraged to use their employee health insurance benefits to cover the cost of the immunization. Many insurance plans will cover the full cost of the vaccine. Individuals will be billed for any uncovered portion of the vaccine. Individuals with an HMO plan may be required to pay a copay unless they receive the vaccine from their designated primary care provider.