By Walk-Up or By Drive-Thru: Patients Given Flu Shot Options to Prevent a Wisconsin ‘Twindemic’

Flu season is here, and like the rest of 2020, it’s a bit different than expected. Flu shots are even more critical this year to help prevent a seasonal “twindemic” of both the flu and COVID-19. In Wisconsin, a state hit hard by a fall surge in COVID-19 cases, UW Health is using MyChart and several convenient flu shot clinics to encourage vaccinations.

“Getting your flu vaccine is important, but it’s just one of many things on each person’s to-do list, so we’re proactively reaching out to patients with several options to make getting vaccinated as convenient and safe as possible,” said James Conway, MD, Medical Director for UW Health Immunization Programs. “This year especially, we need patients to get their vaccinations so we can keep people out of the hospital and conserve resources to combat COVID-19.”

When patients sign in to MyChart, they see a reminder if they haven’t received a flu shot yet this year. They can then schedule an appointment at one of UW Health’s drive-thru or walk-in clinics right in MyChart. Along with the drive-thru service, UW Health is offering flu shots in their pharmacies, as well as through a quick-visit model at their clinics, so patients can get in and out without needing a full doctor’s visit.

“Getting our community vaccinated against influenza will help inform our strategy when a COVID-19 vaccine is available,” Dr. Conway said. “Being able to reach our patients with MyChart and get them to a vaccination site that’s convenient and safe for everyone will be invaluable down the road.”

Epic community members can learn more about using Epic to vaccinate patients for COVID-19 in the Managing Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) With Epic documentation on the UserWeb.