By Bianca Shmulevich
Every year more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from flu complications. With the shortage of flu shots this year, precautions to prevent the spread of the virus are especially important.
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the flu vaccine is the best way to prevent the flu. Due to the shortage, only very young children, seniors and those with chronic illness are allowed to receive the shot. This means the majority of college students need to take matters into their own hands to keep themselves healthy.
The shortage of the flu vaccines is the result of Chiron Corporation, a British based pharmaceutical company, that notified the CDC on Oct. 5, that none of the corporation’s influenza vaccines would be available for the United States this year. Chiron Corporation blamed the shortage on the suspension of their license to manufacture the vaccine by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). This has resulted in the United States only having half of the usual available amount of influenza vaccine. Flu seasons are unpredictable, but fears of an influenza epidemic are widespread throughout the country. Although flu season doesn’t officially begin until December, there have already been cases of outbreaks in New York.
The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. According to CDC, it is spread by respiratory droplets caused by coughing and sneezing. It is spread from person to person contact, but a person can also become infected by touching something with virus on it and then touching their mouth or nose. Many people spread the flu without knowing that they have it.
“Most people do not need to get the vaccine,” Maureen B. Houck, director of the University’s wellness center, said. A nurse practitioner, she believes there are other preventative steps that students can take.
“The most important thing is to wash your hands, I can’t stress enough the importance of that,” Houck said.
Houck recommends washing hands several times a day, when you get home, before you go out, before meals and after using the bathroom. It is useful to carry around a bacterial lotion or gel, such as Purell.
“When someone infected with the flu coughs, the virus is released through the respiratory system and can travel up to 10 feet. If a person touches the place where it lands and then puts a hand to their face, they can easily be infected with the flu,” Houck said.
Houck also recommends using a tissue, rather than a bare hand, to cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing. It is important to be aware of places that can gather plenty of germs from hands; such as banisters, elevator buttons, computer keyboards, money, etc. Students should also make an effort not to share drinks, cigarettes, silverware, or anything else that has touched someone else’s mouth. Most people with the flu, are unaware that they even have it, as they are highly contagious two days before symptoms even begin to appear.
“When people are living in close quarters, such as residence halls, the spread of influenza can move much faster,” Houck said. “It is important to stay healthy to begin with. If you keep your body in peak condition, then your immune system will be in peak condition.”
Students can strengthen their immune system by living a healthy lifestyle. That includes plenty of rest, exercise, adequate amount of sleep, adequate fluid intake, and keeping stress to a minimum. They should also follow a nutritious diet that includes three meals a day, consisting of all the important food groups, such as vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. Vitamin C is also a useful supplement in keeping the immune system healthy.
To prevent the spread of the virus, the responsibility to shield oneself from illness is as imperative as the responsibility to shield others. It is important to keep a distance from infected persons, as well as keeping a distance when one is infected. For many people, it can be hard to distinguish between the flu and the common cold.
“A cold usually has a gradual onset,” Houck said. “The flu is hard-hitting and it comes on suddenly.”
Symptoms of the flu usually consist of onset of headache and overall total body ache. It is commonly accompanied by congestion, fever, chills, fatigue, and loss of appetite. The flu usually lasts between seven to 10 days.
Although the University’s wellness center has access to the influenza vaccine, they are only allowed to administer it to CDC priority groups. That includes student and faculty over the age of 65, those suffering from chronic illness, or women who are pregnant or have children under six months. If the wellness center diverts from this criteria, they will be fined.
“The most important thing to remember is to take care of yourself,” Houck said. “And not to panic. The general population will survive a bout of influenza. You feel horrible but you’ll live.”
Bloomfield, NJ just had a vaccine lottery. The influenza shot cannot be given unless the person is under extreme characteristics. (Image courtesy hsc.unt.edu)