Health & Wellness Center encourages flu shots
For many students, the start of the fall season means the start of flu season, and local businesses are following a national movement to set up flu-shot clinics to draw more business.
“Pharmacies, clinics, doctor’s offices, the hospitals and even some work-site clinics are being set up,” said Dr. Jim Davis, director of USU’s Student Health and Wellness Center.
Influenza vaccines were first available in the 1960s, Davis said, when scientists and doctors began producing influenza viruses that were deliberately weakened to prevent infection, while still providing immunity to the disease.
A variety of wild-type influenza viruses were developed that would replicate at cooler temperatures but could not multiply at the temperature of the human body.
“Now vaccine manufacturers have developed other ways of damaging or weakening the flu particles so that they give you immunity, without giving you the flu,” Davis said.
The annual flu-shot clinic for all USU employees and eligible dependents was held on Thursday, Oct. 13 in the Taggart Student Center.
For those employees with Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance coverage, shots were covered 100 percent, according to Dayna Barrett, interim wellness coordinator.
“We’re trying to keep our employees healthy and happy,” Barrett said. “We want to save them money in going to see their doctor. It’s a benefit of being an employee of USU.”
The clinic served around 1,500 people, Barrett said, who also had the option of going to a local pharmacy and getting their flu shot there for free.
“I think that’s more convenient for a lot of people,” Barrett said, “while they’re at the grocery store to just stop and get their flu shot.”
According to a recent NPR story, pharmacies usually charge between $25-$32, while a shot at the doctor’s office generally costs at least $48.
Smith’s Pharmacy, located 400 North in Logan, charges $25. USU’s Health Center charges $20 per shot.
Davis said regardless of where students get them, he recommends getting the flu shot.
“The majority of health care workers in the valley, most of the sports teams at USU, police and fire employees, and others have already (received it),” he said.
NPR also reported that the H1N1 epidemic — more commonly known as Swine Flu — in 2009 “helped propel the trend (of getting vaccinated). The panic sent customers running to drugstores, which often had vaccines available after physician’s offices had run out.”
Davis said this year’s vaccine protects against the three most notable flu strains — H1N1, H3N2 and a variety of Type-B flu — all in one injection.
“I think the flu shot is best for those for who the virus would do the most damage,” said Erica Whittington, a sophomore majoring in biology. “I think it’s most beneficial for infants and the elderly, because getting the flu could be detrimental to their health.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 18.4 percent of adults, who were immunized, received vaccinations at a supermarket or drugstore, according to the NPR report. Workplace vaccinations trailed close behind at 17.4 percent.
Davis said this is not necessarily a bad thing.
“As long as they are prepared to manage the potential side effects of the vaccine, I see no reason for them to not offer the shots,” he said.
He also said updated vaccines for the U.S. and Europe is decided months in advance.
“It is based on global surveillance of what particular strains are most common in other areas, especially the Southern Hemisphere that season,” he said.
Although the flu shot is available year-round, Davis said, it is best to get the current year’s vaccine just prior to the flu season, to be certain of getting the best matchup between protection and disease.
– amber.murdoch@aggiemal.usu.edu