After experiencing a shortage in meningitis vaccinations at the beginning of the semester, the Wardenburg Health Center is now fully equipped with meningitis and flu shots.
Wardenburg staff members will be holding vaccination clinics from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Oct. 26 and 27 in the CU recreation center to promote proper health practices and flu prevention.
Flu shots will cost $25, and meningitis shots will be $125. Keeping in mind the CU student case of meningococcal disease in September, Wardenburg staff members are trying to emphasize precaution and disease-prevention techniques.
“Wash your hands,” said Robin Kolble, a Wardenburg nurse. “I really can’t emphasize that one enough. Those extra 15 seconds can help prevent so much, and yet it seems like so many students keep ignoring it as something trivial.”
Kolble also warned against any common behaviors that often lead to widespread exposure of various contagions, including sharing drinks, food and cigarettes, all of which add to the risks already associated with constantly being around a contained volume of people.
While meningitis is potentially more fatal, the disease is much more rare than and can sometimes overshadow the possible consequences of the flu. Kolble said the flu doesn’t usually project indications, as does the cold, but overtakes the victim quickly and suddenly, often rendering students bedridden. This relates to Wardenburg’s vaccination clinic slogan this year, “You Don’t Have Time to be Sick!”
However, it seems a common sentiment among students to make such a slogan rather ironic.
“It’s not like I’m against vaccinations – that would be ridiculous. I’m glad they’re having the clinics on campus and making such a resource readily available to the student body, but – well, honestly, I just don’t have the time to go,” said Sage Lesko, a junior sociology major. “And plus, I’m a poor college student with no money, so hopefully, I just won’t catch it.”
Kolble was slightly disconcerted by the general student body’s apathy on basic medical precautions.
“Many people think the flu isn’t that big of a deal, but around 35,000 to 50,000 people a year die in the U.S. from the flu, and when that happens, it obviously turns into a big deal,” Kolble said. “It’s especially important for the college age group, considering their lifestyle, but I recommend both shots to anybody who’s constantly around a lot of people.”
While sanitarily-obsessive and the medically-knowledgeable students may be seen in line at the clinics, many students will manage to continue their lives without disruption.
“Honestly, I’m really not worried about it,” said junior integrative physiology major Rob Chan. “I don’t think the chances of me catching anything are really that high. I don’t feel like paying for something that I could pretty much prevent by taking basic care of myself.”
