Have you gotten your flu shot yet?
The Newman University Student Government Association (SGA) has purchased 100 doses of the Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine and will be administering the vaccination to students on Oct. 3 in the Eck Hall nursing lab located on the first floor. The doses will be divided evenly between two sessions for students to choose from: 7-9 a.m and 5-7 p.m.
Nursing administration and students plan and execute the event, and the students who are going through training and certification in the nursing program administer the shots. “This gives the students the opportunity to get a free flu shot. And the way the flu spreads in the dorms, it’s good being able to have some control over that,” SGA President Hibah Ullah said.
This is the second year SGA has sponsored the event. Ullah explains, “SGA is given a strict budget on which we can do these sponsorships. The process is, the bill for the flu shot program was presented to our senate, and I was in collaboration with Dr. Weilert. We put the details down, how many flu shots do we want to give, and what the cost would be.” The bill was presented to the senate and was voted and approved.
What is the Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine?
The Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccine is a flue vaccination. It helps fight four different types of influenza which is the flu. What the vaccine consists of is a small sample of a dead flu virus which is injected into your arm. Then in about two weeks, your body builds antibodies through your immune system. Because it takes two weeks the injection is offered early before the flu season comes in Oct. Don’t worry, even though the vaccine is a small dose of the flu, it is a dead flu virus so you will not have the symptoms of the flu when given the injection.
Who should get vaccinated?
Children six months and older should get vaccinated. The flu can be spread easily, especially through the dorms. So stay healthy and get your shots!
