Get a flu shot before it is too late

To avoid contracting the flu during finals week, take the steps needed to maintain proper health.

Approximately five to 20 percent of the U.S. population will get the flu each year and more than two hundred thousand Americans are hospitalized each year because of flu complications, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Additionally, the center said between 1976-2006, the number of U.S. deaths from flu-related causes each year ranges from 3,000-49,000 people.

Amy Curtis, assistant clinical professor of nursing, said getting the flu vaccination is important in preventing the flu.

“We haven’t really developed any trends this year because we’re at the very beginning of the flu season, but its already here,” Curtis said. “We’ve already been seeing cases of it already. I think it’s going to spike up with the cases. We recommend the yearly flu vaccine; start it now. It takes about two weeks for your body to build up the antibodies and everything so you can fight off the flu virus. Flu season goes from early October all the way through March, so we have a long flu season.”

Curtis said the belief the flu shot and flu mist can give you the flu is wrong.

“It’s a myth,” Curtis said. “You do not get the flu from the mist or injection. There have been cases where people have gotten the flu within 24 hours after getting the vaccination, but they were already getting sick anyway. They had already been exposed to it, so their body hadn’t had time.”

Curtis said students forget to get the flu shot, because they do not have the parental influences.

“They don’t realize that they, too, especially when they get stressed and their immune system is low, put themselves at risk for a virus to get thick [build up],” Curtis said. “So, we do want to remind the college students to make sure that they are getting their flu shots, particularly people who live in the dorms and closed quarters, because when you’re contained in one area it’s very, very easy to spread this to other people.”

There are three different types of vaccinations for college students this year, according to Kristine Morrell, clinical associate of nursing, and Sarah Watts, assistant clinical professor of nursing.

“[College students] can get the flu mist, which is just a little squirt in the nose,” Morrell said. “They can get the flu shot, which has always been the standard, and then they can get the new one called Intradermal, which is a little, tiny needle. I think that one’s going to be really popular in the years to come with college students because you almost don’t know you’re getting it.”

A quadrivalent vaccine, which covers four strains of flu, is being used this year when in the past the vaccine has only covered three strains, according to Morrell and Watts.

Curtis said good hand washing is the key to prevention.

“The single most important thing that you can do to prevent and break that chain of infection is to wash your hands,” Curtis said. “It seems so simple, but people forget to do it. The flu virus lives on hard surfaces for up to 24 hours, and you could be infecting other people 24-48 hours before you even know that you’re sick.”

Signs and symptoms of the flu are fever, chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose and muscle or body aches, according to Curtis.

“The best medicine is to rest, hydrate and avoid contact with people,” Curtis said. “If you have a fever, Tylenol, ibuprofen and things like that can help.”

Curtis said the Harrison School of Pharmacy, Auburn University Medical Clinic and urgent cares offer flu shots. The pharmacy school has an annual flu clinic as well as monthly flu clinics. The medicial clinic offers the flu shot at any time, sets appointments and can offer walk-in injections depending on their stock.

For more information, visit the CDC website, which shows where the flu is active and provides an option to view the Weekly U.S. Influenza Surveillance Report under Flu Activity and Surveillance. CDC Influenza (Flu) is a mobile app offering the same material.