Flu season has been upon us for months now, but public awareness is again on the rise after the swine flu related death of a Fredericton woman earlier this month.
The Student Health Centre at UNB has run out of flu vaccine but is expecting to receive more later this week.
“The flu vaccine is the best way of preventing the flu. Everyone should get it unless they have a specific medical reason why they cannot. Even otherwise healthy individuals can become very sick from the flu, especially more virulent strains like H1N1,” said Stacey Taylor, nurse practitioner at the health centre.
One hundred people received the flu shot from the clinic in one week, after reports broke of Shawna McNally’s death on Jan. 8. McNally was considered at-risk due to a preexisting health condition. There have been at least four flu related deaths in New Brunswick this year.
In contrast, the immunization clinic hosted at St. Thomas in November was sparsely attended.
The province’s chief medical officer of health, Eilish Cleary made it clear there is no pandemic, in an announcement to the public.
She said swine flu was a bigger issue when it began spreading rapidly in 2009, and no vaccines preparing the body for the H1N1 flu strain were prepared.
“The vaccine is different each year, and is developed based on what strains of the flu are expected to be most prevalent – so it is important to get a flu shot each flu season, because the vaccine changes each year,” said Taylor.
Emily Sheen, STUSU vice-president of administration, says the flu shot is a personal choice that the union has no business giving advice on.
“With such issues, we believe students should undertake whatever research necessary to feel comfortable making a decision.”
Taylor also invites students to do the research on immunization. She believes it may help dispel many misconceptions about the practice.
“Some people think the flu shot can make them sick – this is not true. The flu shot does not contain any live flu virus so it cannot make you sick.”
Flu shots are expected to be available at the Student Health Centre by the end of this week, at a cost of $15 to students.
