Union to receive H1N1 vaccines

By Benjamin Engle

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.

According to the CDC and the New York State Department of Health, the H1N1 vaccine was created like the seasonal flu shot was developed, which approximately 100 million Americans receive yearly. Contrary to reports that the H1N1 vaccine was not tested properly and could be harmful, Departments of Health state that the H1N1 vaccine actually received more testing this year than the seasonal vaccine. Additionally, unlike the seasonal flu vaccine, the new H1N1 vaccine underwent clinical trials for effectiveness and safety.

Because of the rapid spread of the H1N1 virus since last spring, the government is purchasing the vaccine, which will make the spray or the shot free to everybody. Health Services intends to make the vaccine accessible to students by giving it to students during the evening hours in dorms. However, the H1N1 vaccine is not a substitute for the seasonal flu vaccine. The CDC also encourages people to get this vaccination, though is not paid for by the government.

Besides the vaccine, Union Health Services is helping the campus community stay healthy during this flu season by actively educating the campus through fliers, emails, posters, and its H1N1 website. On top of this, Health Services encourages people to engage in proper sneezing and coughing etiquette which includes covering one's nose and mouth with a tissue when one coughs or sneezes, washing one's hands often with soap and water, and avoiding excessively touching one's face, nose, or mouth.

Originally published in Union's Concordy on 10/15/09