Just in time for Halloween, the theme for this year’s Wellness Fair was Sickness Killer Wellness Thriller.
Hanna Kratochvil, chairwoman of the Student Health Advisory Committee, said the fair was a way to promote different aspects of health to students. Chief among them Wednesday was protecting themselves from the H1N1 flu virus.
Free H1N1 vaccinations provided by the Student Health Center were available to students who qualified. After completing a questionnaire, students received nasal spray vaccines from student volunteers from the colleges of nursing and pharmacy services. Students who have asthma were turned away and advised to get the vaccine in a shot from their doctor.
Maggie Reid, a member of the SHAC, said the committee had fewer than 400 vaccines to give students.
“We’re hoping to give out all our vaccines,” Reid said. Once it runs out, the student health center won’t be getting any more, she said.
The turnout at this year’s Wellness Fair was not as good as they had expected or experienced in previous years. Last year, there were long lines for the seasonal flu vaccine, Reid said. Vaccines for the seasonal flu were not available at the fair, but Reid said the SHAC would be holding clinics in the middle of November for students who want to receive the seasonal flu vaccine.
Because of a nationwide flu shot shortage, flu vaccine providers are canceling the orders made by large institutions, but, so far, the U’s order has not been cancelled, Reid said.
“There is nothing we can do,” Reid said of the possibility that vaccine orders might not come in. “We are just waiting to see.”
Zach Cox, a junior in mechanical engineering, said he was worried about the swine flu, but in a different capacity. Cox said he was concerned the Federal Drug Administration did not adequately test the vaccine before its national distribution. Cox said the vaccine should not be given out in mass doses given its inclusion of mercury.
Because he won’t be receiving a flu vaccine, Cox said he takes extra precaution to prevent himself from getting sick.
“I sanitize my hands all the time,” Cox said.
