U of A Health Plans Add RSV Vaccines to Medical Coverage Options

The U of A System Office has announced that eligible U of A employees will soon have access to Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection (RSV) vaccines covered with no out-of-pocket expense through United Medical Resources (UMR). 

The added coverage benefit will go into effect on Sunday, Oct. 1. Those eligible for coverage include: 

  • Infants under 8 months of age  

  • Pregnant members  

  • Members age 60 and older  

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, infants and older adults are more likely to develop severe RSV and need hospitalization. RSV is the primary reason for hospitalization of infants under 6 months. Vaccines help protect from severe instances of the virus. 

Common preventative measures to avoid the virus include: 

  • Staying away from those who have respiratory virus symptoms 

  • Washing and sanitizing high-touch surfaces in home and childcare spaces 

  • Attempting to avoid crowded indoor situations and wearing a mask when necessary 

  • Scheduling a visit with a doctor for the following signs of RSV: 

    • coughing 

    • congestion 

    • fever 

    • sore throat 

    • headache 

    • loss of appetite 

Open enrollment for 2024 plans will begin for U of A employees on Oct. 23, and additional updates about next year's benefits packages will be announced soon. Employees can view benefits information under the "Benefits and Pay" tab in Workday. 

For more information or questions, please email hrbenf@uark.edu.  

Contacts

Justin Freeman, director of administrative communications
Division of Finance and Administration
479-718-1276, jf065@uark.edu

Headlines

Arkansas Capital Scan Unveils Growth, Shortcomings in Investment Landscape

Venture capital dollars flowing into Arkansas-based startups have more than quadrupled annually since 2020. 

Andrew Ruegsegger Documents Over 100 Plant Species at the U of A's Oak Knoll

Ruegsegger, a fourth-year anthropology student, collected botanical species from the Oak Knoll site, a mixed landscape of oak savanna, tallgrass prairie, wetlands, dry uplands and Cato Springs Creek.

WE CARE Rounds of Applause Create Culture of Recognition, Unify Faculty and Staff

Faculty and staff in the College of Education and Health Professions nominate colleagues to recognize "those who go above and beyond their job requirements and demonstrate extraordinary care."

Undergraduate, Graduate Students Invited to Join Spring Course: 'How Did The Holocaust Affect...?'

The seminar course will investigate how the Holocaust continues to affect society today, including through the lenses of music, gaming, immigration law, mathematics, African and African American studies and more.

First-Generation Graduate Reception

The celebration reception for U of A first-generation college students and their families will be held at 5 p.m. Friday, Dec. 15, with remarks and stole ceremony at 5:30 p.m. RSVP to attend.

News Daily