Health officials urge inoculation as flu season nears
Carolina Evans
Issue date: 10/8/09 Section: News
Smith said, "We're covering [students] with a lot of information, giving out cold and flu thermometer cards, talking about hand washing."
"From a standpoint of education…I think we're a lot more aware of what we need to do to prevent from getting the flu," Smith said.
Delaney said, "Students and faculty members seem to have adjusted fairly smoothly to coping with this concern and working through each situation on a case-by-case basis."
Smith said the faculty needs to be commended as well.
"[The faculty] understands the health needs of the students who are ill in their classes," she said. "We are reaching out to accommodate students who are not able to attend classes…everyone's working together."
Brown said: "We are seeing the increased use of hand sanitizers in departments across the campus. I personally have begun to carry a small bottle of hand sanitizer in my car."
Delaney said he has also taken precautions to avoid catching the virus.
"I am following these basic guidelines to wash my hands regularly, use hand sanitizer regularly and just being aware of my surroundings to avoid unnecessary exposure," he said. "I also had the flu shot last week when the nursing program had these available in the UC."
Smith said, "The symptoms for both the seasonal flu and the H1N1 virus are the same…but we treat both the same way as well."
The H1N1 vaccine will be available nationwide in mid to late October, Smith said.
"About 12,000 H1N1 vaccines will be available [to UTC] as soon as we get them from the state," Smith said. "When ours are gone, there are other places to get them, like University Health Services and MinuteClinics. The H1N1 vaccines will be absolutely free."
While 400 seasonal flu shots were prioritized for UTC students, faculty and staff, Smith said the H1N1 vaccine will be available for everyone.
"If you want to bring your roommate that doesn't go to UTC, you can," she said. "Some places may charge an administration fee [for the vaccine] but we will not."
"From a standpoint of education…I think we're a lot more aware of what we need to do to prevent from getting the flu," Smith said.
Delaney said, "Students and faculty members seem to have adjusted fairly smoothly to coping with this concern and working through each situation on a case-by-case basis."
Smith said the faculty needs to be commended as well.
"[The faculty] understands the health needs of the students who are ill in their classes," she said. "We are reaching out to accommodate students who are not able to attend classes…everyone's working together."
Brown said: "We are seeing the increased use of hand sanitizers in departments across the campus. I personally have begun to carry a small bottle of hand sanitizer in my car."
Delaney said he has also taken precautions to avoid catching the virus.
"I am following these basic guidelines to wash my hands regularly, use hand sanitizer regularly and just being aware of my surroundings to avoid unnecessary exposure," he said. "I also had the flu shot last week when the nursing program had these available in the UC."
Smith said, "The symptoms for both the seasonal flu and the H1N1 virus are the same…but we treat both the same way as well."
The H1N1 vaccine will be available nationwide in mid to late October, Smith said.
"About 12,000 H1N1 vaccines will be available [to UTC] as soon as we get them from the state," Smith said. "When ours are gone, there are other places to get them, like University Health Services and MinuteClinics. The H1N1 vaccines will be absolutely free."
While 400 seasonal flu shots were prioritized for UTC students, faculty and staff, Smith said the H1N1 vaccine will be available for everyone.
"If you want to bring your roommate that doesn't go to UTC, you can," she said. "Some places may charge an administration fee [for the vaccine] but we will not."
