Seasonal flu shots now available to students

BY B.J. ALMOND
Rice News staff

Rice Student Health Services received its supply of the seasonal flu vaccine this week, so students can get a flu shot by scheduling an appointment at 713-348-4966.

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The flu shot costs $13 for most students. It is free for students in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s high-risk groups, such as those who have chronic illnesses like diabetes and asthma or are pregnant.

Dr. Mark Jenkins, director of Student Health Services, encourages all students to get a flu shot unless they’ve been advised otherwise by their personal physician. The vaccine should help protect them when the seasonal flu arrives later this fall.

The seasonal flu shot will not protect against the novel H1N1 virus that has been infecting colleges students at Rice and campuses all across the nation. The H1N1 flu shots are expected to be available around mid-October.

Free seasonal flu shots for benefits-eligible faculty and staff and retirees will be available in Kelley Lounge of the Rice Memorial Center/Ley Student Center Oct. 12 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Oct. 23 from 8 a.m. to noon; they will also be available Oct. 16 in the FE&P Training Room from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Non-benefits-eligible faculty and staff and all spouses/domestic partners can get seasonal flu shots for $25 per shot; they must pay by cash, check or credit card at the site.

As of Sept. 17, Student Health Services had seen 175 students with flu-like illness, and 63 had been confirmed as influenza. Jenkins said the number of new flu cases has been decreasing over the past week, and he expects that trend to continue. He reminded students to follow the CDC recommendations to wash their hands often and avoid contact with those who are sick. Students with the flu have been advised to stay in their rooms until at least 24 hours after they no longer have a fever.

An outbreak of the flu among Rice Owls volleyball players prevented the team from entering the UTSA Classic this weekend in San Antonio. With an 8-3 record, the team chose to remain home to allow ailing student-athletes to recover and to avoid spreading the flu to others.

For more information about the flu, visit www.flu.gov.