By Ava Malm
The BYU Student Health Center is gearing up to administer over 2,000 flu shots to BYU students, dependents, faculty and staff beginning today, Oct. 15.
Last year approximately 2,000 students received flu shots from the health center.
According to the Urgent Care Center, the number of students seeking treatment for the flu seems to decrease as the number of students getting flu shots increases.
“I think it [receiving shots] will increase this year because of the awareness of it,” said Kim Christensen, a nursing supervisor who has given flu shots for 27 years at the health center.
However, not all students feel the need to receive a shot this season because they haven”t had the flu in previous years.
“I don”t plan on getting a flu shot,” said Christy Watkins, a senior from Cypress, Calif., majoring in political science. “I figure I”ve survived the last few flu seasons without a problem, so it doesn”t really worry me.”
Some students worry about contracting the flu after receiving a flu shot.
Christensen said flu shots contain the most dominant strains of flu predicted for the season, and patients can get a minor case of the flu from the vaccine. However, people receiving the shot will not get the full-blown flu.
A patient could possibly contract a strain of the flu that is not part of the year”s vaccine, though the illness would not come from the shot.
“If you get really sick after you”ve had a shot, it just means you have been exposed to a strain not in the vaccine,” said Christensen. “It is coincidental if you get really sick right after you get the shot.”
Students that have not received a flu shot in the past can expect to experience a sting as the shot is administered. They may experience an aching in the arm where the shot was given.
Other side effects vary depending on the year”s vaccine. Patients will receive a form containing all the information on possible side effects.
People at a higher risk for the flu include people who have diabetes or a chronic illness and anyone with a suppressed immune system. Students getting inadequate sleep and who have poor diets may also be putting themselves at risk.
The $14 charge for the flu shots applies to students with or without BYU health insurance. To set up an appointment for a flu shot, patients may call 378-5156.
