September 18, 2023

Your ongoing commitment to staying healthy and safe for our patients, members, their families and each other has made all the difference. We will continue to lead the way in caring for the communities we serve by requiring all Texas Children’s team members, inclusive of our employees, Baylor faculty and staff, contractors and volunteers to receive the flu vaccine this fall.

What’s new
  • Exemptions. Medical or religious exemptions obtained from Texas Children’s last year will automatically carry over to this season, so there is no need to recertify, unless the exemption was based on a temporary medical condition. Details on how to submit a new request is included below for all team members, including those who joined Texas Children’s after April 1, 2023 and want to request a medical or religious exemption.
  • Deadline. You will have until Wednesday, Nov. 1 to receive the flu vaccination or have an approved exemption to maintain employment at Texas Children’s. The timeframe to be in compliance is shorter than last year.
  • Connect button. There will be a Flu button featured on the right-hand side of the Connect homepage for easy access to the Employee Health virtual assistant tool.
What you need to know
  • Vaccine availability. There are multiple ways to receive a flu vaccine.
    • Texas Children’s Pediatrics (TCP). Team members can schedule their flu vaccine during their child’s onsite appointment at TCP, but will need to submit proof through the Employee Health virtual assistant tool.
    • Flu events. Austin, The Medical Center, West Campus, The Woodlands and TCHP will offer free flu vaccinations starting Tuesday, Sept. 19.
    • Outside provider. You can receive the vaccine through your doctor or pharmacy, but will need to submit proof through the Employee Health virtual assistant tool.
    • Employee Health. One-on-one appointments can be scheduled starting Sept. 19.
  • Employee Health virtual assistant tool. Visit texaschildrens.org/employeevaccines (you may need to refresh your browser) to submit proof and access exemption requests forms, consent form, flu event schedules and FAQs.
    • Submit proof. If you receive the flu vaccine at a TCP, doctor’s office or pharmacy, you will need to submit proof. Please upload a photo of the flu vaccination record received during your appointment. Ensure the writing is legible and includes your full legal name and birth date. You will not need to submit proof if you receive the vaccine at a Texas Children’s flu vaccine event or in a one-on-one appointment with Employee Health.
    • Exemptions. Employees who do not already have an approved exemption from Texas Children’s last year can request a medical or religious exemption from the requirement by Monday, Oct. 16.
    • Consent form. This form is required for those who wish to receive their flu vaccine at a Texas Children’s flu event or through a one-on-one appointment with Employee Health.
    • Event schedule. Receive your vaccine at one of the 58 flu vaccine events throughout Texas Children’s.
    • FAQ. Access a detailed FAQ document.
  • Contact information. If you have any questions, please contact Employee Health at 832-822-2463, Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. or send an email to employeehealthfluvaccines@texaschildrens.org
October 19, 2022

As a reminder, the deadline to be compliant with the flu vaccination requirement is Thursday, November 17 to maintain employment at Texas Children’s. This deadline also applies to all volunteers, contractors and Baylor team members.

Baylor team member flu vaccine requirement

Baylor team members must complete the attestation process by November 17 if they received the vaccine outside of Baylor, including at a Texas Children’s flu event. The attestation process will be completed through the BCM Flu Vaccine app.

Please note, if a Baylor team member cannot access the app from their Texas Children’s location they can send their vaccine record to vaccinecompliance@bcm.edu and the attestation information will be entered on their behalf.

Helpful resources
  • Digital assistant tool. Visit texaschildrens.org/employeevaccines (you may need to refresh your browser) from any device, anywhere to access the tool for multiple flu resources, including FAQs, how to get vaccinated, more information on exemptions, consent form, event schedule and to submit proof of vaccination. Only Texas Children’s employees should submit proof of vaccination with this tool.
  • Vaccine availability. There are many ways employees can receive a flu vaccine.
    • Please click here to view and make plans to attend any of the 27 remaining Texas Children’s flu events and view details for the new walk-in hours at campus locations.
    • Texas Children’s Pediatrics (TCP) locations are administering the flu vaccine. Team members can schedule their vaccine during their child’s onsite appointment, but are responsible for submitting proof through the digital assistant tool.
    • Flu vaccines are available through primary care providers or retail pharmacies. Team members will need to submit proof of these vaccinations through the digital assistant tool.
    • Click here to schedule a one-on-one appointment or to receive a flu and COVID booster concurrently.
  • Submitting proof. Texas Children’s employees who receive the vaccine outside of either a Texas Children’s flu event or a one-on-one appointment with Employee Health will need to submit proof of the flu vaccine. Baylor team members and contractors please follow the submission instructions provided by your employer.
    • All forms of proof must include full legal name and date of birth. To submit, upload an image of your vaccination card, pharmacy receipt/print out or My Chart screen. JPEG, PNG and TIFF images are accepted. PDF documents are accepted, but Word documents are not.
  • Vaccine questions. If you have any questions, please contact the Employee Health Vaccine Support Line at 832-822-2463 (VACCINE) Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. or email employeevaccines@texaschildrens.org.
  • En español. Para ver este mensaje en español, por favor oprima aquí.
January 25, 2022

As of January 24, 80.1 percent of Texas Children’s employees had received the flu vaccine. A special thank you goes out to all of you who have taken such an important step in protecting yourselves, your colleagues and our patients and families. Although we are excited to see so much participation across the system, we still want to encourage employees to get their vaccine. It is not too late!

Flu activity continues to grow across Texas with numerous cases being reported every day. As a result, Texas Children’s continues to see increases in patient and employee visits due to flu-like symptoms, and we expect that trend to continue in the weeks ahead. Although we have made progress on our flu vaccination efforts over these last few weeks, we are still aiming to achieve our goal of a greater than 90 percent participation rate, a benchmark also measured by U.S. News & World Report.

Below are the top three questions from employees. To answer any additional questions you may have, please reference this handy list of frequently asked questions.

  • Where can I receive the flu vaccine at Texas Children’s?
    • At the Medical Center, West Campus, or The Woodlands Employee Health Clinic locations; team members may walk-in to the Employee Health Clinic Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
    • During your child’s on-site appointment at any TCP location across Houston, Austin, and College Station.
    • Schedule your flu shot at an in-network provider/pharmacy, this is covered at 100 percent through Texas Children’s medical plans.
  • I already received the flu vaccine. Where do I submit proof of vaccination?

If you received the flu vaccine outside of Texas Children’s, please use this online form to submit proof of vaccination. You may also show proof of vaccination to Employee Health on-site.

  • How do I decline the flu vaccine?

If you elect to decline the flu vaccine this year, you are required to complete a Flu Declination Form. The declination form can be found on the Employee Health and Wellness Portal. Follow these instructions: Log in to the Employee Health and Wellness Portal. If this is your first-time logging into the portal, click “Having trouble logging in” to reset your password. For instructions on how to log in to the portal click here. Once you log in, click on the “Forms” tab, then select the Flu Declination Form.

If you have any questions, please contact Employee Health at 832-824-2150, option 5.

January 4, 2022

Flu activity continues to grow across Texas with numerous cases being reported every day. As a result, Texas Children’s continues to see increases in patient and employee visits due to flu-like symptoms, and we expect that trend to continue in the weeks ahead. Although we have made some progress on our flu vaccination efforts over these last few weeks, we are still aiming to achieve our goal of a greater than 90% participation rate.

  • Flu Vaccination Progress: As of January 4, 77.5% of our employees are vaccinated.
  • To receive a flu vaccine on-site at any of our three hospital locations, you may walk-in to the Employee Health Clinic Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  • Employees may now schedule their flu vaccine at a TCP location across Houston, Austin, and College Station. To learn more, click here.
More information
  • If you have received your flu vaccine outside of Texas Children’s, please submit an attestation and proof of vaccination as soon as possible via texaschildrensbenefits.org/flu. You may also show proof of vaccination to Employee Health to receive a 21/22 flu badge sticker.
  • All employees – including community partners in Austin, Central Texas and those working remotely – are covered for a flu shot at 100% through Texas Children’s medical plans when administered by an in-network pharmacy.

To answer any questions, please reference this handy list of frequently asked questions.

If you have any questions, please contact Employee Health at 832-824-2150, option 5.

December 2, 2021

As we enter the winter months, we are seeing a steady increase in respiratory infections across our areas, as well as elevated cases of flu occurring in both Texas and the broader United States. Although last year was a relatively mild year for flu, this year we do not have mandatory masking in the community nor the same levels of social distancing, meaning the transmission of this virus is expected to be much greater.

If you have not done so already, please get your free flu shot as soon as possible. It is effective. It is accessible. And it is expected of all team members who are able to receive one.

In previous years, Texas Children’s achieved a flu vaccination rate above 90 percent. As of right now, we still have a long way to go to reach that important goal, so please take a moment to learn more by visiting texaschildrensbenefits.org/flu.

Call to Action

To make getting your flu vaccine as easy as possible, Texas Children’s offers these convenient options.

  • On-Site Events: We’re adding more convenient events through December. To review our updated event schedule, click here.
  • Rounding. This month, our nursing leadership will be rounding in the units with flu carts to make the shots more accessible to our bedside staff.
  • Texas Children’s Pediatrics: Team members may receive the flu vaccine during their child’s on-site appointment through any Texas Children’s Pediatrics location.
  • Submitting Proof. Team members who receive their flu vaccine outside of Texas Children’s are required to submit an attestation and proof of vaccination by December 17, via texaschildrensbenefits.org/flu. They may also show proof of vaccination to Employee Health to receive a 21/22 flu badge sticker.

According to U.S. News & World Report, the rate of flu vaccine compliance is a key indicator of the quality and safety of a health care environment, and is one of the measures they use in assessing and ranking our hospitals. To help us maintain this high standard of care, please get this important vaccine.

If you have any questions, please contact Employee Health at 832-824-2150, option 5.

September 29, 2021

Can’t make an on-site event? Drive up to receive your flu shot instead! Read more

September 15, 2021

Check out the on-site event schedule to receive your flu shot. The Woodlands is now on Friday, September 17. Read more