The Student Health Center is hoping to squeeze in at least one more H1N1 clinic before the semester ends if shipments continue to arrive as they have.
Jake Baggott, associate director of the Student Health Center, said the three clinics held this semester, all of which have been free, have been successful.
Sara Nimmo, training assistant at the Student Health Center, said between 700 and 800 people have been immunized at the clinics on campus.
There are still some H1N1 vaccines remaining after the last clinic Nov. 19, Baggott said, and students can pay the $6 front door appointment fee to receive the vaccine on a day a clinic is not being held.
More than 200 students received the vaccine Nov. 19, the day before many of them left Carbondale to visit home, Baggott said.
“We wanted to make sure as many people got it before the break as soon as possible,” he said.
Baggott said he and staff at the Student Health Center are hoping shipments of the vaccine continue to arrive as they have been in order to open up clinics to more of the student population, especially before Christmas break.
“We’re not certain how many and at what intervals, but as (the shipments) continue to come, we’re going be able to make it more generally available,” Baggott said.
Only a few students have been turned down from getting the H1N1 vaccine, he said. Most students fall in the Center for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines of people who are at high risk for contracting H1N1, especially because the age limit is 24 years old, Baggott said.
“Most college students, because of the age, fall into that category,” Baggott said. “So frankly, I encourage every college student to take advantage of the clinic.”
Deedra McLain, physician at the Student Health Center, said regardless if a student has been sick or not this year, they should still get the H1N1 vaccination.
“Regardless of whether you think you’ve had the flu or if you have had the flu, get immunized,” McLain said. “Vaccination is crucial.”
The Student Health Center saw a significant peak in flu-like cases at the end of October and beginning of November, she said, with as many as 140 students being treated in one week. After the outbreak of the H1N1 virus, McLain said the usual amount of students coming in with flu-like symptoms is around 40 per week.
She said the Student Health Center could have seen its peak this semester, but there is always the possibility of it happening again. Getting the H1N1 vaccination can help soften the blow if there is another peak, she said.
“It was pretty hectic, there were a lot of sick people,” McLain said. “The best thing that a person can do is get vaccinated, that’s the key.”
Jeff Dykstra, a sophomore from Rolling Meadows studying mechanical engineering, said he was in the Student Health Center for flu-like symptoms about a month ago. After getting sick, he said he’s been considering getting the H1N1 vaccine before Christmas break if it’s available.
“I have a good immune system, I’m not too lazy,” Dykstra said. “Now I’ve really been thinking about getting the vaccine.”
Baggott said if a student has already been exposed to H1N1 or has already gotten sick, they should still get the vaccine.
“If you’ve been exposed, then maybe you’re thinking you might not get the flu, but that’s not a strong argument to consider not getting the vaccine,” Baggott said. “It’s quick, it’s cheap, it’s convenient and that way, at least, you have some assurance that you have some protection.”
Updates for future H1N1 vaccine clinics will be posted on the Student Health Center’s Web site at http://shc.siuc.edu.
Erin Holcomb can be reached at 536-3311 ext. 255.
