The Facts:

Flu vaccine clinic will be available to students beginning Oct. 14 at various locations around campus. This will begin the preventative process during this upcoming flu season.

Our Opinion:

The flu season is already upon us, and while the Student Health Center tries to help prevent students from getting sick, students need to know how help themselves.

Each year the seasonal transitions result in many environmental changes, but the most common bump in that transitional road is the common cold. Influenza plagues many students every year; however, the spread of this illness can be prevented.

On average, one out of five Americans suffers from influenza every year. Of these cases, nearly 226,000 are hospitalized for severe complications caused by the flu. While these facts are quite realistic and dangerous, students will most likely not suffer from such consequences; however, the spreading of this illness is irresponsible.

More often than not, students think flu symptoms mean nothing more than a little head cold. In reality, they may be indicative of one of the most contagious illnesses to the modern world, and also the most preventable.

The flu shot helps fight off this illness. The Student Health Center has a number of locations on campus to get a shot, but it may cost you. The flu shot itself costs $25, and the alternative nasal vaccine costs $35. These prices are consistent with rates pharmacies charge for the shot, but for students, $25 can go a long way, so many do not find this vaccine to be worth the price. While the Health Center does provide the shot for free if you have their insurance or are insured by Blue Cross, the rates for those not insured are a little pricey.  

It is not just up to students to get these shots, but also the University to lower this price. A portion of our student fee money goes to the Student Health Center and its operations, so shouldn’t that help alleviate at least some of the cost of this expensive vaccine? If not, the Health Center should consider expanding their health care coverage to other companies so more students can receive the benefits.  

Even with the Health Center and other prevention techniques, students must remember one thing if they find themselves sick with the flu: don’t spread it.

If you are sick, don’t go to class. Instead of using your classes’ three sick days as skip days, save them in case you actually do get sick. Many times, students will come into class anyway for fear of missing a class. This fear should not exist. The rule of three sick days is standard in most classes, but with the influx of the influenza this time of year, the University should be more lenient with legitimate sick days. Professors, let us be sick. Let us get better.

To have a sickness excused from class attendance, a student must have a note from the Health Center. Most times, students don’t want to go pay yet another pricey Health Center fee just to be told by a nurse that they need to take the next 24 hours to get well, but they have to do this if they want their absence to be excused. 

In retrospect, be sure to take the time to rest and get better if you find yourself getting sick. But more importantly, take the time to prevent getting sick in the first place. Your teachers, your fellow students and even your wallet will appreciate it in the end.