In conjunction with the Associated Students Organization (ASO), the Health Center will be offering free H1N1 vaccinations to current students in the Student Activities Center on Monday from 1 to 5 p.m., Debbie Conover, student health services coordinator, said.
“We just recently received a ration of the H1N1 vaccination,” Conover said. “We asked for 1,500 and so far have received 100 doses.”
Despite the small number of doses, the Health Center wants to get the vaccinations out as soon as possible to those in need, Conover said.
In order to receive a vaccination, students must have their ID card with the current semester’s sticker on it, Josh Casper, ASO president said.
Although all students are welcome to come to the clinic, priority for the vaccination will be given to those who are in the “high risk” categories, Conover said.
These “high risk” categories are: being under 24 years of age, having chronic health problems or compromised immune systems, being pregnant, working in health care or with children younger than six months old, Conover said.
“We have students coming in and asking about (vaccinations) every day, so it’s good that we’re getting them out to the students on Monday,” Conover said.
Along with the H1N1 vaccinations, students have been asking the Health Center when it will receive a seasonal flu vaccination, Conover said,
“We initially asked for 500 doses of the seasonal flu vaccinations, but have yet to receive any,” Conover said. “When we call (wondering about the vaccinations) they say, ‘We haven’t heard from the manufacturers yet.'”
When the Health Center finally does get the seasonal flu vaccinations, these vaccinations will be offered for free, which has not been the case in the past.
“In conjunction with (ASO), we came to the determination that the seasonal flu will be offered free to students, even though (the Health Center) still pays for it,” Conover said.
Part of the reason for the shortage of the seasonal flu vaccination is because manufacturers have been focusing on getting the H1N1 vaccinations out, Conover said.
“I’m surprised we got the H1N1 vaccinations this early,” Casper said.
Conover was also surprised the vaccinations came when they did because she was not notified prior to their arrival.
“We are trying to meet the needs of our college students here. That’s our main priority,” Conover said.