Student Health and vaccine company Intravene will hold vaccination clinics today from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to provide the seasonal flu vaccine as well as other vaccines at the Aquatic and Fitness Center. Another round of vaccinations is also scheduled for Nov. 5 in the Newcomb Ballroom from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Though University officials had originally expected the H1N1 vaccine would be available for the Nov. 5 clinic, University Director of Nursing Sandra Murray and other Student Health associates now believe that this is "doubtful."
"The supply has not kept up with demand," Murray said. "Based on the original projections the vaccine was supposed to be ready by the end of October."
The University shortage mirrors a national struggle for clinics and hospitals to provide the H1N1 vaccine to both health service workers and the general public. Last week, the White House declared the nation's increasing swine flu activity and lack of H1N1 vaccines a national emergency. To date, Student Health has reported 555 cases of flu-like illness at the University.
Both clinics will still provide vaccinations for the seasonal flu in injection form and intranasal form as well as vaccinations for meningococcal meningitis, tetanus/diphtheria, tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis (Tdap) and M/M/R (mumps, measles and rubella). The clinic will also have the Twinrix (hepatitis A and B) vaccine as well as individual vaccines for hepatitis A and hepatitis B and Gardasil in stock. Prices for vaccines range from $25 for the seasonal flu vaccine to $150 for one injection of Gardasil.
Murray encouraged students who want a flu shot to attend one of the clinics instead of scheduling individual vaccination appointments with Student Health, where there is an increased chance of contracting an illness, she said.
For some students, however, getting vaccinated is not a top priority.
"I wasn't planning on getting any of them," second-year College student Jon Armstrong said. "I figured if I got swine flu I would get treated anyway. I could just go to Student Health."
Peer Health educator Laura Long, though, said getting vaccinated is more of a public health issue than an individual health concern.
"It may be a pain and you may hate needles, but it's worth it for those around you," she said. Murray added that the flu can vary in seriousness from person to person.
"I think that no one really knows how they'll respond to the illness," she said. "There are some [reactions] that are devastating. But you just don't know if you're one of the people who will be severely ill."
For the most up-to-date information about the H1N1 vaccination and its potential availability on Grounds, officials suggested visiting the Student Health Web site.
"If [the H1N1 vaccine] is available, though, we'll make every effort to publicize it," Murray said.
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