H1N1 vaccine finally available
The long-awaited H1N1 flu vaccine is finally available to KU students, and it’s being offered free of charge. Clinics began yesterday (Dec. 2) and will be held today and tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Seminar Room 200 of the Student Recreation Center, where students can go to receive their vaccine.
According to Dolores Hess, director of the Health and Wellness Center, the school received 5,000 doses. She recommends that any students at high risk for complications from the flu (including anyone with a pre-existing medical condition and pregnant women) receive the vaccine the first day it is available, in case supplies run out.
Though a nasal spray form of the seasonal flu vaccine was provided earlier this semester, the H1N1 vaccine is only offered as an injection. Hess said the reason for this is that the nasal spray, as opposed to the shot, contains a live version of the virus. Because of this, it is not recommended for high-risk people. “The flu mist was available sooner, however, the Health Center did not order it because it was not a big seller with the students for the seasonal flu since it was a live virus,” she told The Keystone in an e-mail.
The H1N1 vaccine was expected in October, but Hess said that the federal government focused its weekly distributions of the vaccine on priority areas. “There was only so much vaccine available weekly due to possible production issues,” she said.
All KU students are eligible to receive a free vaccine shot, but anyone 18 years old or younger must have parental permission. A consent form that must be filled out by a parent or guardian is available on the Health and Wellness Center’s Web site at http://clinical.dept.kutztown.edu.
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