Pilots Prevent
September 21, 2021
With COVID vaccines top of mind and in the news nearly every day since the pandemic began, it’s easy for the annual flu vaccine to get lost in the shuffle. But now more than ever, everyone needs to get their flu vaccine as early in the season as possible. And this year, UP is making flu vaccinations easier than ever.
But first, here are three reasons why you should make it a priority:
“Flu, colds, and COVID symptoms look the same,” says Miko Hoy, registered nurse in UP’s Health and Counseling Center. “We have to be able to see everyone to rule out COVID. But hospitals are overloaded already with COVID patients. If we’re overrun with flu, it really puts a strain on the health care system.” And that might mean some people might not get the care they need.
“Vaccinations prevent diseases from spreading, especially in a congregant setting, like college campuses,” says Hoy. Nobody wants to be the one who got their entire friend group, classroom, or dorm sick with the flu. Think of it this way: by getting vaccinated, you’re helping everyone stay well, not only yourself.
Hoy says young adults can typically shrug off the flu in a week, but there are plenty of people out there who could get dangerously ill, or worse, from the flu — the elderly, small children and babies, people with chronic illnesses or who are going through chemotherapy, just to name a few. Getting vaccinated makes it less likely you’ll get sick and pass along the virus to someone who might not be able to recover.
How To Get a Flu Vaccine
Luckily, the annual flu shot is widely available at pharmacies and doctor’s offices. It’s usually free to anyone with health insurance. Just take your insurance card to the pharmacy counter (think Rite-Aid, Walgreen’s, CVS, and Fred Meyer). Those without insurance can expect to pay around $40.
Better yet, UP students can take advantage of the University’s big, free, flu vaccination clinic tentatively scheduled for October 20 (the official day and time will be announced soon). “We’re working with Legacy Health and the School of Nursing,” says Hoy. “We’ll hold it in the quad if the weather cooperates. Legacy is providing us with the vaccine, and nursing students are administering them, so there’s no cost to students. We may be able to get extra vaccines to administer in the HCC if people can't make it to the event.”
Hoy says most people don’t feel any symptoms after getting the flu vaccine beyond a slightly sore arm. “If people get symptoms, it's mild to none. Most have no symptoms at all.”
And if you’ve put off getting the flu shot because it's manufactured using chicken egg proteins, you can seek out the quadrivalent variety, which are not made with any chicken eggs. Flublok Quadrivalent is licensed for use in adults 18 years and older while Flucelvax Quadrivalent is licensed for use in people 4 years and older.
“If you have any questions contact the HCC,” advises Hoy. “I’m more than happy to talk about concerns, questions, where to go. A lot of students don’t know how their insurance works, which is part of learning how the health care world works. We’re here to help with whatever they need.”
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