Union to receive H1N1 vaccines
Benjamin Engle
Issue date: 10/15/09 Section: Sci/Tech
As the H1N1 strain of the flu continues to spread across the United States and, more specifically, college campuses, Union College Health Services plans to distribute the H1N1 vaccine to students. According to the Union Health Service's website, there have been approximately 29 cases of influenza-like illness at Union since the beginning of the school year in September.
While the Schenectady Department of Health reports on their website that there are cases of the H1N1 influenza in Schenectady County, there have been no confirmed reports of H1N1 on campus since Health Services does not specifically test for it.
The H1N1 vaccine, which is being manufactured by five different companies, was approved by the FDA on September 15, 2009, and was shipped out to health departments across the United States during the week of October 5. The Schenectady Health Department received 500 doses of the H1N1 vaccine on October 6 and has sent it to hospitals and qualified health centers. However, as of October 9, Union Health Services has not received any shipments of the vaccine, though they "hope to receive the vaccine within the next week or so." It is unknown how much of the vaccine Union will receive.
The H1N1 vaccine comes in two different forms, a nasal spray called FluMist and a traditional shot. Contrary to rumors and petitions on the internet to prevent people from getting the H1N1 vaccine, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) insists that it is completely safe and encourages people to get vaccinated, especially health care workers, pregnant women, children and young adults, and people aged 25 through 64 years who have chronic medical conditions and weakened immune systems.
Since Union is following CDC guidelines, Health Services encourages all students to get the vaccine when it becomes available on campus. The New York State Department of Health says that vaccination is the most effective way to prevent the flu. Not only does getting the vaccine better protect an individual from getting the flu, it also helps prevent that person from spreading the illness to surrounding people without the vaccine.
While the Schenectady Department of Health reports on their website that there are cases of the H1N1 influenza in Schenectady County, there have been no confirmed reports of H1N1 on campus since Health Services does not specifically test for it.
The H1N1 vaccine, which is being manufactured by five different companies, was approved by the FDA on September 15, 2009, and was shipped out to health departments across the United States during the week of October 5. The Schenectady Health Department received 500 doses of the H1N1 vaccine on October 6 and has sent it to hospitals and qualified health centers. However, as of October 9, Union Health Services has not received any shipments of the vaccine, though they "hope to receive the vaccine within the next week or so." It is unknown how much of the vaccine Union will receive.
The H1N1 vaccine comes in two different forms, a nasal spray called FluMist and a traditional shot. Contrary to rumors and petitions on the internet to prevent people from getting the H1N1 vaccine, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) insists that it is completely safe and encourages people to get vaccinated, especially health care workers, pregnant women, children and young adults, and people aged 25 through 64 years who have chronic medical conditions and weakened immune systems.
Since Union is following CDC guidelines, Health Services encourages all students to get the vaccine when it becomes available on campus. The New York State Department of Health says that vaccination is the most effective way to prevent the flu. Not only does getting the vaccine better protect an individual from getting the flu, it also helps prevent that person from spreading the illness to surrounding people without the vaccine.
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