Flu Shot Shortage

Health Center expects effects from national deficit

Kevan Maciver graphics editor

The University Health Center cannot provide the usual number of vaccines for faculty and staff this year because of the deficit that has left the United States with half of the expected supply.

"It is a fact that the flu clinic will not run as scheduled," said Lois Kauffman, administrator of student health services. "The [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] guidelines have changed."

The CDC was notified on Oct. 5 that the Chiron Company, based in Liverpool, England, had its license to produce the flu vaccine suspended under questions of vaccine quality. Of the original supply of 54 million vaccines available to the United States, 30 million already have been used.

The Health Center only can provide a limited number of vaccines. The total number of vaccines that will be available has yet to be determined, according to the Health Center. Final decisions regarding the vaccine will be made in the next few days and an update will be posted to the JMU Web site gateway. Many students hope to find other options.

"So are students expected to just go home to get the vaccine because JMU has a deficit?" junior Hayden Van Dyke asked. "What about kids who live 10 hours away?"

Vaccines will not be available from Rockingham Memorial Hospital, according to Deb Thomspon, associate director of public relations and communications for RMH. "As of today (Wednesday), we don’t have any vaccine," she said. Until further notice, RMH employees and volunteers, as well as the public, must seek vaccines elsewhere.

Options other than the Health Center may include going through local medical practices. This may be difficult for some students due to transfer of insurance information or a higher cost. "For now, there is not much to add [regarding JMU’s vaccine situation] until we hear from the proper authorities," said Dr. Jonathan Malone, medical director and administrator for student health services.

Many students thought that having as many vaccines as possible is important, "considering we live in such a close environment, especially in dorms where 20 girls are sharing one bathroom and you can be living with up to two other people in the small vicinity of a dorm room," junior Jessica Christin said.

The CDC listed priority groups to receive the vaccination first. Included in these groups are all children aged 6 to 23 months, adults aged 65 years and older, persons with chronic medical conditions and all women who may be pregnant during the flu season.

There are many ways to prevent the spread of viruses, such as influenza. Cleaning hands often and coughing or sneezing into a tissue and then throwing it away are obvious and easy methods to keep from getting sick.

Avoiding close contact with those who are sick or staying home when ill also helps slow the spread of germs.

Other students plan to make it through the flu season without available vaccines — just like in other years.

"It’s a shot that puts the flu virus in you. Craziness, I tell you … and it hurts," senior Lisa Torpey said.

"It doesn’t really matter if there is a lack of flu vaccines," junior Derek Kinzel said. "Only the strong survive … therefore I have nothing to worry about."