Flu vaccines are available at the Student Health Center for the 2012-2013 flu season.
As students embrace the fall season with pumpkin-spice lattes and midterms, the Student Health Center prepares for yet another flu season, offering the annual free flu vaccination clinics on campus.
The Student Health Center’s legendary “Stick or Treat” was yesterday, but the Student Health Advisory Board still hopes to increase the number of students who take advantage of flu vaccinations. The health center has paid particular attention to promotion through emails and Facebook.
“The flu shot clinics on campus are a quick and simple process for students,” said Anushree Mahajan, junior and member of the Student Health Advisory Board. “Patients fill out two pieces of paperwork and then receive the shot. Then they just go about their day. No hassle and it’s easily accessible.”
The American Medical Association defines influenza as a highly infectious respiratory disease and viral illness associated with high fevers, general body aches, vomiting and nausea. Other symptoms include headaches, sore throat, runny nose and fatigue.
Health officials across the nation are strongly urging people to receive the annual flu vaccine and take preventive action against influenza. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that flu season can begin as early as October and end as late as May.
Following the 2009 H1N1 epidemic, the Student Health Center documented twice as many students receiving the flu shot as before the outbreak. This same year, the Student Health Center also began offering the flu shots on campus free of charge instead of at low cost.
“We feel that the increased number of students was related to the fact that there was heightened public education regarding the flu, public fear about the new strain and increased availability of the flu vaccine,” Jennifer Ehteshami said, a physician assistant who has worked at the health center since 2007.
Within the past few years, viral epidemics of influenza have caused nation-wide awareness about the detrimental effects of the so-called “common flu.” In 2009, 22 million Americans became ill with the swine flu within six months and over 3,000 people died. The CDC also accounted for 540 pediatric deaths. Since the reappearance of the avian flu, or bird flu, in 2003, there have been approximately 606 known human cases and 357 deaths.
The Student Health Center and health clinics nation-wide administer flu vaccines during the fall season each year to prevent three types of influenza viruses: influenza B viruses, influenza A (H1N1) viruses and influenza A (H3N2) viruses. The type of influenza vaccination changes each flu season due to environmental influences and researcher predictions, which is why the CDC strongly advises that people receive the vaccination, even if they have taken it the year before.
“It is important for students to get flu shots as it is the best defense against catching the flu. The flu can result in a prolonged illness that can result in prolonged absence from school, high fevers and life-threatening complications,” MD Assistant Clinical Chief of Pediatrics at Cedars Sinai Medical Center Valerie Watiker said.
CBS News recently published an article referencing the statistics of last year’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly report on influenza. The CDC revealed that 42 percent of the U.S. population received the flu vaccine with 128 million administered shots. The results were far lower than their original goal of 80 percent vaccination rates.
“The flu virus, in addition to other viruses, is very contagious and easily transmitted from person to person especially in such close environments, like classrooms and dorms,” Ehteshami said.
While the flu vaccine may be the strongest preventative method resisting influenza, health officials advocate that people should continue to maintain health through simple sanitary actions, such as washing hands and covering the mouth when coughing. Taking these cautionary measures can make the ultimate difference between getting sick and remaining healthy.
The Student Health Center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and can be contacted at (310) 506-4316.
