Temperatures are beginning to drop and flu season is fast approaching. Thanks to the Health and Wellness Fair yesterday, some students are already prepared.
ASUU, the Center of Student Wellness and Campus Recreation Services teamed up to provide health information and free flu shots to U students. Over the course of the afternoon, they administered 342 shots.
Twenty-eight vendors from on and off campus came to the event.
Although free flu shots drew many students to the event, they were not the only free health service offered.
“We have the Department of Health doing free HIV testing. We have screenings for blood pressure, the Huntsman Cancer Institute is here giving screenings on skin health. We also have the nursing students down here giving free flu shots. We really want to thank ASUU for funding those free flu shots for 800 students on campus,” said Marty Liccardo, a health educator at the Center of Student Wellness.
ASUU funded and organized the administration of the flu shots.
“ASUU spent $12,000 to buy 800 flu shots. The ASUU Student Services Board also worked with the Center for Student Wellness to set up flu shots,” said Michael Chen, the ASUU director of Student Services and a second year medical student.
Student health was not the only focus of the fair.
“We have the Money Management Office giving financial assessments. We tried to figure out all these different places where you need to maintain health, wellness and safety for students and let students interact and engage with those offices,” Liccardo said.
Liccardo says that with flu season approaching it is important to get vaccinated.
“Flu vaccination is one of the most important things we do because the flu and colds is one of the biggest impacts for students’ academic success on our campus. Often times it can be a catastrophic problem because you don’t know when you’re going to get sick and then you miss class, you miss tests and study groups. So that’s a big deal for us.”
The remaining flu shots will be given at other events.
“We will have two other clinics. The first will be up at the Health Science and Education building on Oct. 11 and the second one will be in the residence halls on Oct. 30,” Liccardo said.
Students that attended the event enjoyed the opportunity to get a free flu shot, but they also enjoyed the vendors that were at the event.
“I came to get the free flu shot, but there’s also cool things here that I support, like the LGBT, Eating Disorder Awareness and Planned Parenthood,” said Corinne Galland, a sophomore in English and psychology.
The event also gave student nurses attending the U an opportunity to practice giving shots.
“It gets us good practice, giving shots over and over, ” said Claire Watson, a junior in nursing.
Liccardo said even students who do not make it to an event to get a free flu shot can get inexpensive shots at the Student Health Center.
“After we go through the 800 free flu shots, we will still be giving flu shots at the Health Center on campus for a minimal fee of $15 that most health insurance companies cover,” he said.