Mississippi State University’s Longest Student Health Center is now offering free H1N1 vaccinations to all MSU students.
Health and Wellness director Dr. Joyce Yates said the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends certain groups of the population receive the 2009 H1N1 vaccine first. These target groups include pregnant women, people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age, health care and emergency medical services personnel, persons between the ages of 6 months and 24 years old, and people ages of 25 through 64 years of age who are at higher risk for 2009 H1N1 because of chronic health disorders or compromised immune systems.
Director of University Health Services Dr. Bob Collins said MSU knew the flu was coming and the university responded quickly.
“We . stocked up on hand sanitizer, Tamiflu and masks,” he said. “We have tried to meet the needs of our students when they became ill.”
Longest Student Health Center administrator Robert Cadenhead said the health center prepared for the outbreak of the flu.
“Dr. Bob Collins recognized the potential for the H1N1 outbreak very early and made application to the Mississippi Department of Health for vaccines,” he said “University Health Services continue to be proactive in its efforts to provide health services to the MSU community.”
Yates said another committee was formed and procedures were developed, including a Flu Watch Web site and campaign.
“The Flu Watch Web site and materials were produced before the first case of flu at MSU was diagnosed,” she said. “Other universities have used the flu watch Web site at MSU to support their development of materials.”
Collins said the health center has seen almost 800 cases of the flu so far.
“We expect to see more,” he said. “It does not appear to be going away.”
Cadenhead said MSU has requested 3,000 vaccines from the health department allocation.
“To date, 600 doses of nasal spray have been received,” he said. “We hope to receive additional vaccines as it is made available with some of the injectable version as part of the allocation.”
Cadenhead said so far, 80 doses have been requested and provided to MSU students, though the vaccine will be offered as long as the supply lasts.
“There is no cost to students for the nasal vaccine as this cost has been absorbed by the Federal government through the CDC,” he said. “The injectable vaccine will also be free of charge; however, a $10 administration fee will be charged to students to cover the cost of supplies and nursing staff to administer.”
Collins said he encourages every student to get the free vaccination as he predicts the flu will probably reappear after winter break.
“While individual cases of the flu are not as severe as the seasonal flu, there is a higher likelihood of having a complication such as pneumonia,” he said. “Over 4,000 U.S. citizens have died already of the flu. It is foolish not to take a safe vaccine that can prevent the flu.”