COVID-19 Update: Flu Shots

Dear students, faculty and staff,

Welcome to autumn, which we ushered in this past weekend with plenty of fun and fireworks at our first Fall Festival. We are fully in the midst of a season of celebration at Shenandoah — remember that Homecoming begins next week!

That said, we must enjoy the season safely. As cases of the delta variant continue to climb around the region and the country, we are seeing an uptick in cases and hospitalizations related to COVID-19 in the Lord Fairfax Health District. However, our COVID-19 cases at all SU campuses remain exceptionally low due to our high vaccination rate and preventative measures. We are continuing to require those who are not fully vaccinated to test regularly and wear masks whenever they are in any public indoor spaces.

Please remember that everyone — regardless of vaccination status — is required to wear masks when attending in-person classes held indoors and are welcome to mask up whenever they are in close proximity to others. We will continue to monitor the situation to see if we need to implement additional safety protocols beyond Friday, Oct. 1.

Please use the Shenandoah Go app to report:

• Symptoms that could be related to COVID-19
• Possible exposures to someone who tested positive for COVID-19
• Positive test results

Reporting this information, along with conducting our own surveillance testing, helps in monitoring the number of current and potential cases within our university community to update our COVID-19 Dashboard.

A reminder to residential students that there is an option to stay on the main campus Oct. 15-19 during Fall Break but residents must complete a pre-registration form by Monday, Oct. 4.

In addition, everyone is encouraged to get a flu shot this fall! Flu shots for students are available at the Wilkins Wellness Center and will be billed to your health insurance. Look for more information about upcoming flu clinics or contact the Wilkins Wellness Center at wwcenter@su.edu to schedule an appointment.

Flu shots for faculty and staff are readily available in the communities surrounding Shenandoah locations, including at pharmacies and primary care practices. Flu shots are free under most health insurance plans. Employees needing assistance finding a provider may contact Lisa Darsch, the university’s healthcare navigator, at ldarsch@su.edu.

Shenandoah is a place of compassion and care, and by keeping yourself healthy, you’re also protecting other members of our community as well. Thank you. I hope you have a wonderful week to come.

Tracy