As the Fall semester comes to a close more students face the anxiety of final exams and the “twindemic,” the combined strength of both the flu and covid-19.
Do we need the flu shot this year? Are we more protected from the flu based on all the social distancing safety measures we are already following for covid-19?
According to the CDC “Flu activity is unusually low at this time but may increase in the coming months.”
Even though the flu has many common symptoms to covid-19 and impacts the elderly and people with pre-existing health conditions in particular, there are key differences.
For example, children and teens are much more likely to get the flu. If they get a bad case this year and have to go to the hospital, the beds may all be full and the friends or family members who take them for care have a higher risk of being exposed to the coronavirus.
In order to keep households safe the New Jersey Department of Health recommends that everyone still get a flu vaccination if possible.
A few different options for getting a flu shot are available. Without insurance, local shopping centers like CVS, Target, and Wegmans offer them for $40. If you’re looking for a cheaper option, Costco sells their lowest-priced vaccine at $20. Other options include your doctor’s office and local pharmacies. For more information visit https://vaccinefinder.org/find-vaccine to find your local vaccine providers.
Rest assured, in the face of the twindemic Mercer County Community College and staff will take the proper steps in creating a safe way for students to stay healthy.
Due to covid-19’s massive impact, most of Mercer County’s health-related resources are already allocated to its prevention. If a Mercer student does need a flu shot the school recommends Robert Wood Johnson Barnabas. For the low price of $22 students can receive their flu shot by walk in or appointment.
When asked about Mercer students receiving the covid-19 vaccinations Kevin Duffy, Dean for Health Professions at Mercer, says, “We are established as a P.O.D, [meaning] a point of dispensary, so whenever there is any type of vaccine our campus’ at both Trenton and West Windsor we are set up in a way that we will be able to give vaccines to our community.”
Mercer Professor Liz Mizerak, Director for Nursing at Mercer, adds, “We absolutely are committed to our students assisting in any public health efforts that we can.”
Some nursing students at MCCC may even be administering vaccines as well. Professor Mizerak has been in contact with the CDC and other health clinics about this. She states if needed “our students will be reassigned from their normal clinical experiences.”
She goes on to say, “They will instead be diverted to one of the public health locations to assist in vaccinating.”
Both Dean Duffy and Professor Mizerak urge students to stay healthy by continuing to take public health measures.
Dean Duffy recommends students taking the time to read and move your body in order to encourage our mental and physical health.
Professor Mizerak suggests that students educate themselves about the current twindemic as well as take advice from health experts.
Dean Duffy says “Take care of yourself. Be smart. If you don’t feel right don’t be a hero. Get yourself right and come back stronger.”
