Flu season hits, but Health Center has cure
Campus Times
November 7, 1997
With Thanksgiving and Christmas on its way, everyone knows that flu
season is here. That is why the University of La Verne's Health Center has
offered flu-shots for all faculty and students since Oct. 14.
Influenza, better know as the flu, is an ailment that spreads from person
to person to the nose and throat of others.
Some symptoms of having the flu are fever, chills, headaches, coughs,
a sore throat and or muscle aches.
The flu-shot will help prevent people from getting the disease. However,
if someone gets the shot and then come in contact with the disease, he or
she could get the flu but it would be a milder case.
"In order to get the flu shot you have to be healthy, you have
to feel good and you have to have no temperature," said Maureen Pray,
Health Center nurse.
The shot is injected into the arm of the patient and from there on out,
it is up to the vaccine to do the rest. No side effects happen from the
shot other than it may cause temporary redness or soreness in the inoculated
area.
"There is usually no reaction," said Pray.
Two weeks after the injection, the vaccine begins to protect the person
against influenza. About 70 percent of those immunized are guaranteed complete
protection.
"There has not been as many students getting the shots as there
has been faculty and staff," said Pray. "Less than a quarter of
the students have gotten the shot. I have given about 65 flu-shots this
year."
The influenza disease can make people of any age ill. And the shots
can be given to a person of any age and should be given on an annual basis.
"You can get the shots yearly," said Pray. "Most of the
same people come back every year and we always get a few more new ones."
Most people infected with the disease are ill for only a few days. Others
may have a much more serious illness and may need to be hospitalized.
People who are more at risk for getting a serious case of the flu or
people with serious complications that should get the vaccines are people
65 or older, elderly with chronic medical conditions or those with long-term
health problems such as heart diseases, anemia, metabolic disease (like
diabetes), asthma and lung or kidney diseases.
"It hits you a lot harder as an adult," said Pray. "Not
like children, they usually can bounce right back up after being sick."
Once a person has gotten the shot it begins to protect the patient after
one to two weeks. Protection could then last up to one year.
Although, Pray thinks it is only really effective for a shorter time.
"It lasts approximately six months," she said.
The flu season lasts from October to April and, if one gets the shot
at the right time, it could take a person through flu season with no worries.
It is best to get the vaccine in the fall. People nine years and older
need one shot each flu season, while children even younger than nine may
need a second shot after one or two months because they are so susceptible
to the virus.
Children and teenagers [usually not adults] who catch the flu can develop
Reyes Syndrome which causes, liver danger and death if on a long term aspirin
treatment.
The flu virus can change frequently and it may not always be covered
by the vaccine. Plus, other viruses can cause diseases that seem like the
flu. However, the shot will not protect against anything other than the
flu infection.
The vaccine contains viruses that are similar to those a person might
catch when they catch the flu. All the viruses in the vaccine are killed
and no one can get the disease from the actual vaccine.
However, anyone in an open environment such as schools and colleges,
and people who work with a lot of others are most likely to come in contact
with the disease and should be injected with the vaccine.
Influenza can be a serious disease that should not be overlooked. It
can lead to pneumonia and death.
The shots will be offered free of charge at the Health Center until
Dec. 5.
"We checked with the Health Department to see when they recommended
when to start and stop giving the flu shots and that was the date they gave
me," said Pray.
Appointments can be made by calling the Health Center at ext. 4254.
