Student Health Service, Wellness Center offer flu clinics on St. Paul and Minneapolis campuses
The Student Health Service and the Wellness Center will offer flu clinics on both the St. Paul and Minneapolis campuses this month.
Clinics will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. today, Oct. 16, and Wednesday, Oct. 31, in the lower level of Koch Commons on the St. Paul campus.
A flu clinic will be held on the Minneapolis Campus from noon to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 30, in Room 346, Terrence Murphy Hall.
The cost is $20 for all students, faculty and staff. Cash or checks are accepted. Students can charge their student accounts.
For more information about the clinics e-mail the Wellness Center.
About influenza:
Influenza is a serious respiratory disease that is spread primarily through coughing and sneezing, and approximately 36,000 Americans die of influenza-related illness each year. Even for those who are healthy, influenza can cause high fever, cough, body aches, headaches, and other symptoms that may last a week or more resulting in missed classes, assignments, exams or work days. In addition, college students can spread influenza in the community and even expose their own family members, some of whom may be at risk of complications, such as the elderly or very young. Vaccination of college students and staff is the best way to prevent influenza on college campuses and their surrounding communities.
The Center for Disease Control and the American College Health Association released a joint letter last month encouraging influenza vaccination for all students who live in residential housing and for students and their close contacts (e.g., roommates, family members) who have medical conditions that may increase their risk of influenza-related conditions. Those students and staff planning on studying abroad would also benefit from influenza vaccination.
Influenza prevention tips:
Stay as healthy as you can. Get plenty of rest, don’t smoke, if you drink, limit your alcohol intake to no more than one or two drinks in one sitting, and eat a balanced diet.
- Avoid close contact. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to protect them from getting sick, too.
- Stay home when you are sick. If possible, stay home from work, school and errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching your illness.
- Cover your mouth and nose. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may prevent those around you from getting sick.
- Clean your hands. Washing your hands often will help protect you from germs.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or mouth.
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