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Don’t let the flu take you by surprise this winter, get vaccinated
Archive
With the changing season and cooler weather, it is time to begin preparation for the flu season. According to the Center for Disease Control, the influenza virus strikes 10 to 20 percent of the United States population each year, mainly from November to April. Students on college campuses are not exempt.
Influenza is a respiratory virus. Symptoms include high fever, chills, muscle aches and pains, headache, fatigue, sweating, and a cough. The flu can last a week or more and cause students to miss classes, which could put them severely behind in their studies. It may lead to repeating a semester, and thus, incurring additional costs. Influenza may have complications, such as pneumonia, which would greatly lengthen the recovery time.
Obtaining the flu vaccine can prevent contracting the flu. The vaccine is highly effective. There are many misconceptions about receiving the flu vaccine. One of the most common is that the vaccine may cause the flu. That simply is not true. The viruses used in the vaccine are either inactivated or killed and therefore cannot cause the flu.
People are not protected immediately after receiving the vaccine. It may take two weeks for the flu vaccine to be effective after receiving it. If the flu virus or another virus is contracted before receiving the flu vaccine, it cannot prevent the illness from occurring. Hence, vaccination is recommended before the flu season arrives.
The flu vaccine is usually available starting in the middle of September. This year, due to changes in the vaccine and problems with manufacturing, it will be arriving late and there may be a shortage. This could cause an increase in the occurrence of the illness.
Students who are interested in protecting themselves from the flu can get the vaccine at the Health and Wellness Center. The cost of the immunization is covered by the student health insurance plan, according to Jayne Nelson, director of the center. She recommends students get vaccinated as soon as the vaccine is available.
There are some things that can be done to help prevent contracting or spreading viral illnesses. Hand washing is the single most effective method to prevent the spread of viruses. Hands should be washed frequently throughout the day and after sneezing or coughing. Also, it is recommended to use a tissue to cover the mouth and nose instead of just a hand when sneezing or coughing, and then discarding the tissue into a waste receptacle. It is important to keep the hands away from the face as viruses can live on non-living surfaces for hours and then be transferred to a person via the hands.
With the effectiveness of the vaccine and the low cost of getting the immunization, why risk getting the flu? Watch for the banner at the Health and Wellness Center that will indicate that the flu vaccines have arrived.
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Nicki Allred is a registered nurse and a student at BSU