Hopkins is completely prepared to give a flu shot to any student who needs or wants one, which is consistent with the Center for Disease Control's claim that everyone in the country who wants or needs a vaccination can have one this season.
"I strongly encourage students to come in and get vaccinated against the flu, particularly students who have chronic medical conditions like asthma, diabetes, heart problems, suppressed immune systems and so forth. But the flu vaccine is really for anybody end everybody who wants to decrease their chances of getting the flu," said Alain Joffe, director of the Health and Wellness Center.
The Health and Wellness Center, located in AMR II, ordered 650 doses of influenza vaccine and has currently administered approximately 200. Joffe said that 650 has been the number of influenza shots available every year for the last five years, but if they happen to need more, they can order it, though it may take a few weeks.
"Certainly, if the demand exceeds the supply we'll go out and get some more either from the hospital or from a pharmaceutical warehouse," Joffe said.
Although any student can go to the Health and Wellness Center to get a flu shot, many students are not interested and don't know about the service.
"I don't plan to get a flu shot because whenever I get one I always end up getting the flu, a different strain, but still" senior Alena Balasanova said. "And I didn't even know they were available on campus."
"I'm not going to get one because my dad's a doctor and he never really gave them to my brother and I," junior Rachel Kolander, said.
Jaan Rannik, a senior, said he's hasn't heard anything about influenza shots on campus. "I'm not planning on getting a flu shot. As it won't lessen my chance of actually getting the flu, I'm not too motivated to get the shot. I assume I would head to Health and Wellness and sign up there, but no, I'm not clear on the procedure."
Joffe says the procedure is easy. Students should call or stop by the Health and Wellness Center to make an appoint for Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. or for Thursday afternoon or Friday morning. The shot takes approximately 15 minutes and cost ten dollars.
Other students aren't interested in getting the shot because they think it doesn't do anything. "I do not plan on getting a flu shot," senior Ryan McCaffrey said. "I believe in mind over matter."
Senior Steven Shui agreed. "No I don't plan to [get an influenza vaccine] because I am not aware of the need to at the moment."
If students don't want to be vaccinated, Joffe urges them to decrease their stress levels, eat healthy and wash their hands to prevent germs. "Probably the single most important thing you can do is practice good hand washing," Joffe said, "study after study says it helps." Joffe also said anti-bacterial hand sanitizer also works.
Joffe added that if someone thinks they have the flu, they should come to the Health and Wellness Center immediately, because they can prescribe medicine that shortens the illness, but it only works if administered within the first few days of the influenza. Joffe said the symptoms are common to a cold, but they come on more suddenly.
