Flu shot only for high-risk people

The University Health Center will only give flu vaccines to high-risk faculty, staff and students starting on Oct. 25 through Nov. 5, or for however long the vaccine supplies last.

People at-risk include those over 65, those with chronic medical conditions, pregnant women and those who work in healthcare.

People with asthma, diabetes, kidney/liver/hepatic disease, heart disease, lung disease, cancer, HIV/AIDS or those receiving extended immune suppression therapy have a higher priority than others to receive the flu vaccine.

The Health Center only will receive 800 to 1,000 flu vaccinations, according to Ann Simmons, coordinator of health services. This shipment is half of about half of the total number of vaccinations ordered by the Health Center.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) instructed the American College Health Association to follow the guidelines set after final confirmation of a limited supply of influenza vaccinations, which in turn encouraged the University Health Center to do the same.

"We were then instructed to give it only to people who fit the criteria," said Lois Kauffman, assistant director of clinical operations who holds a bachelor of science in nursing.

"This isn’t our decision — we’re just doing what we’re told to do by the CDC," Simmons said.
"We are one of the only colleges in Virginia that has the vaccine," she added.

There currently are no available vaccines at Virginia Tech and George Mason University, according to those schools.

There is another option for students called the Flumist nasal vaccine, a nasal spray with the live influenza virus vaccine. Flumist can be obtained through a health care professional, but is not offered at the Health Center.