Photo Courtesy of Imaane Patel ‘24
By Gillian Petrarca ’23
Staff Writer
On Friday, Oct. 26, the Health Center held a flu vaccine clinic for students.
“I really appreciated the event,” Lauren Gruen ’23 said. “I don’t have a car, so having something like this on campus was very helpful.”
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, flu season can start in the United States as early as October and end as late as early May, and normally peaks from December through February. About 8 percent of the U.S. population gets sick from the flu each season. The CDC recommends getting the flu vaccine each year in order to prevent illness. It is best to be vaccinated by the end of October. Other preventative measures against the flu include hand-washing, covering coughs and sneezes and staying away from people who are sick. The symptoms of the flu include fever, cough, sore throat and fatigue. If you feel any symptoms the CDC recommends that you stay home and rest.
“Although college students generally are very healthy, living in close proximity to one another and attending large classes gives them more exposure to contagious viruses such as the flu,” Dr. Susan Even, executive director of the student health center at the University of Missouri, said in a university press release.
Robert M. Jacobson, M.D., medical director of the Mayo Clinic’s primary care immunization program, said that college students put themselves at risk of the flu and other respiratory illnesses by not getting enough sleep and through other unhealthy habits, such as poor nutrition and not drinking enough water. Stress can also tire the body and make the immune system vulnerable to viruses.
“Pulling all-nighters to catch up on studies, staying up late on Friday and Saturday to recreate and relax with their friends often puts their bodies at higher risk to catch an infection,” Jacobson said. “They end up leading a lifestyle that runs their bodies down.”
The vaccine was offered for free to those who have the Student Health Insurance Policy and was $20 for students who have private insurance. Outside of the vaccine clinic, students can make an appointment through the Health Center’s online portal to receive a flu vaccine. There are also options outside of the school that students can pursue, such as going to local drugstores.
“I don’t have the college health insurance, so my friends and I usually get it for free at the Walgreens down the street,” Eliana Petetz ’22 said.
The CDC said to expect some soreness, redness or swelling at the injection site, low-grade fever or aches after receiving a flu vaccine. After vaccination, it will take two weeks to build immunity against the flu.
Gruen concluded, “I think getting the flu shot is very important and I hope they do an event like this again in the future.”