The University Student Health Center has begun to receive the flu vaccine and students and faculty can now receive flu shots on campus. Shipments of 300 doses will continue to arrive at the center every week for the rest of fall term.
All of the health center’s 3,000 doses should be delivered by Dec. 18.
Currently, the vaccines are only being administered to at-risk students and faculty who suffer from asthma, diabetes, immune system weaknesses or are older than 65.
Health Center Director Dr. Gerald Fleischli said he is particularly concerned that all at-risk students get their shots. Fleischli said at-risk cases will be taken care of first because they could face serious health problems if not treated. He said the health center has enough vaccine for the at-risk cases, but does not yet have enough for the otherwise healthy population, so those people will have to wait to receive shots.
“It’s sad we have to turn healthy people away who are concerned about their health, because we’re concerned too,” he said, “but people have been very patient.”
Sharon Harbert, the nursing supervisor of health center Area C, said 350 flu shots have been given so far — 185 to faculty and staff and 165 to students.
“It makes sense that faculty and staff have received more of the doses because they’re older and more likely to have a chronic illness,” she said.
Patty Andrews, director of nursing at the health center, said she thinks everyone is frustrated about the flu vaccine delay.
“I think we’re all in the same boat,” she said. “But we’re optimistic that supply will catch up with demand.”
No flu cases have been diagnosed yet, Andrews said, and added she hopes the flu season will start later this year to give the center more time to allow everyone to get flu shots.
Students and staff can call the health center’s flu information line at 346-4444 for updated information on the status of the University’s vaccine supply.