Health Center offers free
flu vaccines
By Charise Pettit
Staff
Writer
Between four and five thousand students, faculty
and staff are expected to receive the flu vaccine through the Purdue
University Health Center this season, according to Mary Lou Clendenning,
a nursing team leader at the Health Center.
Purdue will offer the flu vaccine to faculty and
staff from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. today in the Intercollegiate Athletic
facility, located next to Mackey arena.
Any faculty and staff members, along with their
spouses, are encouraged to get the vaccination, especially if they are
at high risk. High-risk people include those with weakened immune systems,
asthma, diabetes, any chronic heart condition and those over 65, according
to James Westman, director of the Purdue Student Health Center.
Purdue Worklife, a part of the staff benefits program,
is covering the cost of the vaccinations. The program has provided this
service to faculty and staff for over five years, said Clendenning.
Beginning Nov. 1 and continuing throughout flu
season until March, students can receive the vaccine on an individual
walk-in basis at the Student Health Center for $13. However, if a student
feels he falls into the high-risk group, he should call the center at
494-1700 to make special arrangements to receive the vaccination early.
It is a good idea for students and faculty alike
to take advantage of this offer.
"We have a fairly healthy population here, but
whenever you have people living in close quarters such as the residence
halls or Greek housing and in classes together, you come into close
contact with effected individuals and the risk of any virus or disease
spreading increases," said Westman.
A second clinic will be offered for faculty and
staff at the same time on Oct. 31 in Stewart Center.
"We are doing everything possible to help the campus
stay healthy," said Westman.
In addition to the flu clinics, there will be a
meningitis vaccination clinic for students from 1-7 p.m. on Wednesday
in the Purdue Armory.
Although the last reported case of this rare but
serious disease on campus was in January of 1997, the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention especially encourage college freshmen living
in dorms to be vaccinated. Other students may also choose to be vaccinated
in order to reduce their risk of catching the potentially fatal disease.
Cases of meningococcal meningitis are increasing
in the college population nationwide, and the shot helps protect students
from four of the five most prevalent strains.
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