Flu season is coming on fast, gearing up in October and November and predicted to peak between December and February according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). A flu shot is the most effective way to reduce chances of contracting the virus, but many obstacles stand in the way of Mercer students obtaining one.
In a survey of 30 Mercer students, 53 percent said they are likely to get the flu shot this year, and 63 percent said they got it last year. Reasons students gave for not getting the flu shot last year, included: forgetting, trusting their immune system to overcome the flu, not thinking about it until after already coming down with the flu, not having time, not having health insurance, and not knowing where to go to get a shot.
Unlike six of our sister community colleges in New Jersey, Mercer does not have a health center that might be able to set up a regular flu shot clinic.
Asked if flu shots are ever available on campus, Dean of Students Dr. Diane Campbell said, “Yes, most certainly. We try to do that every year because when students get the flu, the attendance in classes go down.”
Dr. Campbell provided a flyer about last year’s flu shot clinic that was presented by RWJ Hamilton Occupational Health Department and the MCCC Nursing Education Department. The shots were available on two days during a two-hour window and cost $20.
Information about last year’s flu shots show it was not widely known of by faculty or students. In fact, even nursing faculty said they had never heard about it. No information about shots for this year have been circulated yet, either.
For those without health insurance, the cheapest flu shots can be found at Costco for roughly $15. Target and RiteAid typically charge the most; they charged $38 and $35 in 2015.
Last year’s flu season was the first ever to be classified by the CDC as “high severity across all age groups.” To add to that, research has shown that community college students, in particular those who are in the lowest socio-economic brackets and first-generation college attendees, are at higher risk of being absent due to health problems.
According to Maurice Thomas, director of Financial Aid Department, 50 percent of Mercer students qualify for the maximum need-based state and federal funds, meaning they are in the lowest socio-economic brackets (averaging $20K in family annual income).
Rose Delvalle, an administrative specialist in financial aid, said “I think flu shots should be available for students. I know that some local pharmacies offer free flu shots, I haven’t seen schools doing that, but that would be a great benefit for students.” She added, “It would definitely be good practice for nursing students in their later years.”
Some townships, offer free flu shots for seniors (who are already covered by Medicaid). Others offer shots for youth and seniors. Nearby Hamilton offers free flu shots to residents age 9 years or older. Available flu shot times and dates for Hamilton residents can be found at www.hamiltonnj.com/flushots.
Dean Campbell says that flu outbreak “also affects the entire health of college so we have had not only flu shots, but we have had campaigns involving posters reminding people to wash their hands.”
In some Mercer bathrooms, there are signs about proper hand washing to help reduce spread of colds and flu. Some of these date back as far as 2009 and the outbreak of “swine flu,” but according to CDC during the height of flu season, hand washing alone is not enough to stop from germs from spreading.
According to CDC, sanitizing lowers the number of germs on surfaces or objects to a safe level, as judged by public health standards or requirements. This process works by either cleaning or disinfecting surfaces or objects to lower the risk of spreading infection.
Liberal Arts major Isaiah Petit-Compere says he got the flu last semester. “During finals I got sick and it was hell trying to get through it. I wish Mercer had a free flu shot.”
For now, local big box stores and pharmacies such as Walgreens, RiteAid and CVS provide flu shots either by appointment or walk-in. Appointments are recommended, as wait times can be long.
