Editor’s Note: The Technician originally reported that the Health Center would provide free flu shots to students, employees and their family members. This is incorrect. Students with some insurance plans will receive the shot free of charge, but all students can get the immunization and the Health Center will run their insurance.
Flu season is fast approaching in North Carolina, and NC State’s Student Health Center will soon begin offering flu vaccinations.
All students will be able to receive a flu shot at one of several clinics hosted by Student Health this fall and winter. Student Health will file insurance for each student receiving a shot, which will generally cover the full cost of the vaccination, according to Leah Arnett, the director of Student Health Services.
The Human Resources department will also provide vaccinations to NC State employees at separately sponsored events on campus.
“College students are probably at the highest risk for getting the flu, because the virus can be spread so easily on a college campus,” said Dr. Letitia Hazel-Lindsay, medical director of the Student Health Center. “If you prevent the flu, you can do better in your classes. Getting your flu shot will keep you healthy and keep you in class.”
People infected with the flu virus often feel sick for up to two weeks, and it can cause students to fall behind on their course work.
“This is the worst time to get sick,” Hazel-Lindsay said. “Flu season coincides with one of the busiest times of the semester when students are coming up on midterms and projects.”
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the vaccine causes antibodies to develop in the body two weeks after vaccination. These antibodies help provide protection against viruses in the vaccination.
“The vaccine stimulates your immune system and helps you fight disease,” Hazel-Lindsay said. “So if you are infected with the virus, your body has a better chance of handling it because it’s already familiar with it.”
In collaboration with Maxim Health Systems, Student Health Services will host several flu vaccination clinics between October 14 and January 21 at various locations across campus. No appointment is required at these clinics. However, students will need to present a photo ID and a copy of their insurance card before being seen, according to Arnett.
Students with the following insurance carriers will receive the shot for free as part of their health insurance coverage: Medicare Part B, PFFS Medicare Advantage Plans, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, BCMS of MA, Premera Blue Cross, Aetna, Humana, SummaCare and Coventry Health Care of the Carolinas, Inc (formally Wellpath).
Students with other insurance providers can pay $25 for the vaccination at the time of service by cash or check, or they can bill the full cost to their student accounts.
Students who cannot make one of the scheduled clinics can visit the Student Health Center between 9 a.m. and noon each Saturday between October 18 and November 15 and also on January 10 and 24.
Flu shots are available by appointment on weekdays through the Health Center, and walk-in flu shots are available at the Student Health Pharmacy, both for $25. Nasal vaccines, which are administered through the nose without a needle, are available at the Pharmacy without an appointment for $35.
Student Blue, NC State’s university approved health plan, covers 100 percent of the cost of a flu shot.
The flu shots are ordered from a medical company and then stored in the pharmacy at the Health Center.
“We’re starting to see students come in with viruses and colds, and it’s good to get the vaccine in advance so you don’t get sick,” Hazel-Lindsay said. “It really makes a difference because anyone can get the flu. And when you do get it, you’re miserable. It takes a while to recover from it, and then you’re never going to want it again.”
Some students will be quick to utilize the flu clinics.
“I’m definitely getting one,” said Madison Moore, a freshman in fashion textile management. “I get one every year, mostly because my mom has always told me to. I think it’s important to prevent other people from getting sick.”
However, many people remain on the fence about getting a flu shot. Part of this is due to the way the vaccine works by injecting people with a weaker form of the virus.
“I’m not sure – they’re kind of risky I think,” said Barry Griffith, a junior in accounting. “They might make you sick, because they’re actually putting the virus in your body. I’ve only gotten one before – at the health center during my freshman year. I’m not anti-flu shot, but I’d like to get some more information about it before I get one.”
No vaccine is 100 percent effective, the flu shot included, and the effectiveness of the vaccine can vary depending on your health and age, as well as which strand of the virus is used for the vaccines.
While it is still possible to be infected with the flu even with a flu shot, the vaccine can cause a more mild illness as well as prevent serious side effects that can lead to hospitalization and deaths.
