Health & Wellness Services to Offer Flu Vaccines

PULLMAN, Wash. – Washington State University Health and Wellness Services will offer $15 flu vaccines beginning Oct. 24.

To receive a flu vaccine, WSU students can stop by the HWS medical clinic, located at Stadium Way and Nevada Street, from 8-11:30 a.m. Monday through Wednesday, or from 9-11:30 a.m. Thursday and Friday.

Students unable to stop by the clinic and WSU employees who want a flu vaccination can visit www.hws.wsu.edu for a schedule of flu vaccine outreach locations. HWS offers flu vaccine outreaches through Operation Immunization in conjunction with the Professional Pharmacy Student Organization.

High-risk individuals are encouraged to get vaccinated. The Centers for Disease Control defines high-risk individuals as people 65 years and older; people who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities that house those with long-term illnesses; adults and children 6 months and older with chronic heart or lung conditions, including asthma; adults and children 6 months and older who need regular medical care or were in a hospital during the previous year because of a metabolic disease (like diabetes), chronic kidney disease or weakened immune system, including immune system problems caused by medicines or by infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV/AIDS); children 6 months to 18 years of age who are on long-term aspirin therapy (Children given aspirin while they have influenza are at risk of Reye syndrome.); women who will be pregnant during the influenza season; all children 6 to 23 months of age; and people with any condition that can compromise respiratory function or the handling of respiratory secretions (that is, a condition that makes it hard to breathe or swallow, such as brain injury or disease, spinal cord injuries, seizure disorders or other nerve or muscle disorders.) Additionally, the CDC recommends that anyone who has regular contact with a high-risk individual should get the vaccine.

The CDC also recommends that certain people do not get vaccinated. People with a severe allergy to chicken eggs, people who have had a severe reaction to the vaccine in the past, people who developed Guillian-Barre syndrome after a vaccination and people who currently have a moderate or severe illness that includes a fever are discouraged from getting the vaccine.

For more information about vaccination and flu prevention, visit www.hws.wsu.edu.