Two hundred and thirty four Oswego State students attended the first two of four Mary Walker Health Center’s free influenza vaccination clinics Sept. 27 and Sept. 28.

“The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat and lungs. It can cause mild to severe illness and at times can lead to death. The best way to prevent the flu is by getting a flu vaccine each year,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

On average, registered nurses at the Mary Walker Health Center administer one thousand flu shots varying year to year, Director of Student Health Services Angela Brown said.

Symptoms of the flu include: fever, coughing, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches and fatigue. If infected by the flu, it is best to stay home and avoid contact with others as it is contagious, according to the CDC. Flu season can start anywhere between May and October.

“You can still get the flu if you have been vaccinated, however, usually your symptoms are less than if you did not receive the vaccine,” Brown said. “I will say that patients who do get the flu and have not been vaccinated tend to be the sickest.”

Mary Walker Health Center carries and administers quadrivalent vaccines. Quadrivalent protects against four types of flu viruses: two influenza A viruses and two influenza B viruses. Traditional flu vaccines include trivalent, which do not protect against one of the influenza B viruses, are a cheaper option offered in doctor’s offices. The flu shots during the four clinics are free of charge for all students.

Hannah Hess, a junior at Oswego State, attended the first flu shot clinic Sept. 27 to get vaccinated for this year’s oncoming flu season. It took about three minutes for a registered nurse to call her in and administer the shot. Hess said she has been getting the flu shot every year consistently since she was younger and has never become sick with the flu.

“I think it’s important for people to be vaccinated because it strengthens your immune system and I feel like it’s important for those who live in close quarters, such as a college dorm room,” Hess said.

Other students such as Sarah Stamberg, a junior at Oswego State, remain skeptical about getting the flu shot due to past experiences.

“I get sick anyways so I just feel like it’s pointless. I pretty much always get some strain of the flu,” Stamberg said.

Many students at Oswego State become sick with the flu and flu-like symptoms, commonly called the Oswego plague. Last year, Mary Walker Health Center had 1,133 appointments with sick students, Brown said.

“As a young, healthy adult you may be able to fight off influenza but if you pass that along to someone who is elderly or a child their immune system may not be as good and they can become sick and potentially worse,” Brown said.

The next free flu clinics will be hosted in the Mary Walker Health Center Oct. 10 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Oct.11 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Photo provided by Steve Elmore with Fort George G. Meade Public Affairs Office via flickr