Aggies take a stab at the flu
Some Utah State University employees looked nervous as they stood in line for their flu shot Friday in the Sunburst Lounge in the Taggart Student Center.
The annual flu shot was to help USU employees remain healthy so “they don’t miss work,” said Diane Poulson, employee of Bear River Health Department.
“We do this every year here, usually October or November,” she said.
Poulson said it is important for people to get a shot because the flu “can be serious. The flu is more serious than the shot.”
“The flu itself will knock you over,” Poulson said. “It [can] cause pneumonia.”
Faculty and staff received information about the flu shots by mail.
Shots were also offered for immediate family members of the employees.
Ken Olson, associate professor in animal science, said he received the notice but since his wife didn’t want to go, he went alone.
“It’s a great program,” he said. “I hope I don’t get sick [now].”
Diann Buck, accounting staff assistant at the USU Bookstore, said she is a “firm believer” in the flu shot.
“Since I started getting the flu shots, I haven’t had any allergies in the spring,” she said. “And I don’t get sick.”
Buck said while she waits in line for the shot she tries to keep her mind off of the needles, since she doesn’t like them.
“I think some people get antsy waiting in line,” she said. “So, I look out the windows or something.”
Poulson said “those who are chicken” can use FluMist. It’s more expensive but it does the same thing and has no needle, she said.
Karina Velez, a senior majoring in public relations, said she was in the lounge studying while employees waited in line, where she saw a few incidents of nervousness.
“One little girl screamed ‘I don’t want a shot daddy,’ and then she hid,” she said.
Velez said the girl’s father had to chase her and try to bribe her.
Buck said the lines were slower and much longer this year.
Poulson said compared to the other years, this one had a better turnout.
“A lot of people will be protected from the flu,” she said.
The flu shots given fight against three different strains of flu, she said.
The shot will protect the employees from the serious strains.
When employees entered the lounge they filled out some forms and could read a pamphlet on the shot.
“Some people who get flu vaccine may still get flu,” the form stated. “But they will usually get a milder case than those who did not get the flu.”
The form also gave more information with facts about symptoms of the flu and more detail about the shots.
-srkrebs@cc.usu.edu