Student Health Services held the first of three free H1N1 vaccination clinics Tuesday in the George Sherman Union Alley.
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The clinics are the first to be offered to the entire Boston University community, aside from the H1N1 vaccine clinic in December offered to students who had pre-existing conditions and were considered to be in high priority groups.
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‘If you’re vaccinated, you will help prevent becoming infected and spreading the flu to others in the community,’ SHS said in an email to all BU students on Jan. 19.
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In the first three hours of the clinic, which was held from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., about 400 students filed in to receive shots. Students swiped their Terrier cards at the door, filled out a form and stood in line.
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Nurses from SHS and Boston Medical Center were on hand to administer the shots.
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‘College students are in the high risk category,’ SHS Assistant Director Chris Valadao said. ‘And living in the dorms in close proximity makes it easier to spread.’
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Valadao said college and health centers do not control the volume of vaccinations given, and were therefore subject to how many doses the state chose to dispense. For the clinics this week, SHS received 4,000 doses though they had originally requested 10,000 from the Mass. Department of Public Health.
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The Department of Health and Human Services determines how many vaccinations are distributed to locations based on eligibility, according to its website. The website also encouraged citizens not associated with universities to get the shot in order to avoid the flu.
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‘H1N1 flu shots are widely available and everyone is urged to get vaccinated,’ Flu.gov states. ‘Protect yourself in case there is a third flu wave this winter.’
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Many students said they feel receiving the vaccination is important for their health.
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‘I read about the third wave of H1N1 and that it might come soon,’ first-year graduate student Mifrah Haq said. ‘So it’s better to be safe than sorry.’
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Others, like School of Management junior Wing Ki Veronica Kwan, are getting the shot because they want to be careful.
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‘I’m from Hong Kong and SARS was very serious there,’ she said. ‘And I want to get the vaccination to be more cautious about the H1N1 virus.’
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College of Communication freshman Rachel Blumberg said she got the shot because as a student wth Type 1 diabetes, she is at even higher risk of catching the flu and other viruses.
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‘I knew it was necessary for my health,’ she said. ‘Especially since living in the dorm leaves students more prone to sickness.’
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College of Arts and Sciences senior Kyle Potter said he got the shot because he thought it was affordable and efficient.
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‘It’s definitely important to get vaccinated,’ he said. ‘And it’s free.’
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In Sept. 2009, a Cornell University student died from complications related to the H1N1 virus, as did another student from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill in December.
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A study by the American College Health Association found that the number of influenza-like illnesses among college students has been steadily declining, but as of mid-December, only 8 percent of students were vaccinated against the H1N1 virus. There have been over 88,000 cases of influenza-like illnesses among students since late August, the ACHA reported.
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Valadao said the possibility of more H1N1 clinics next week depends on the volume of students who attend in the next two days.
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The next free clinic for the H1N1 vaccine will be held on Thursday in the three-court gym in the basement of the Fitness and Recreation Center from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
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