[Students] Flu Shots at SHS

[Joan Lawrence]

STUDENT HEALTH SERVICES

 

It is not too late to get your flu shots at Student Health Services

 

$10 for A&M-Commerce students

$15 for faculty/staff/community

 

Stop by Student Health Services to get your shot

 

Located in Henderson Hall

 

Shots will be given: 

Monday-Friday 8-11:45am & 1-4:30pm

Thursday 8-11:45am, 1-4:45pm & 6-8:30pm 

 

Questions, call 903-886-5853

 

FLU SHOT FAQs

Why should I get vaccinated?

Influenza (flu) is a contagious disease.

 

It is caused by the influenza virus, which can be spread by coughing,
sneezing, or nasal secretions.

 

Other illnesses can have the same symptoms and are often mistaken for
influenza.  But only an illness caused by the influenza virus is really
influenza.

 

Anyone can get influenza, but rates of infection are highest among
children.  For most people, it only lasts a few days.  It can cause:
fever, cough, sore throat, headache, chills, muscle aches and/or
fatigue.  

 

Some people, such as infants, elderly, and those with certain health
conditions, can get much sicker.  Flu can cause high fever and
pneumonia, and make existing medical conditions worse.  It can cause
diarrhea and seizures in children.  On average, 226,000 people are
hospitalized every year because of influenza and 36,000 die- mostly
elderly.  Influenza vaccine can prevent influenza.    

 

Can the flu shot give me the flu?

No, the vaccine contains an inactivated (killed) virus and cannot cause
the flu.

 

Who should get the flu shot?

Anyone who wants to reduce the likelihood of becoming ill with influenza
or spreading influenza to others.

All children 6 months of age and older and all older adults.

Anyone who is at risk of complications from influenza, or more likely to
require medical care:

            Women who will be pregnant during influenza season.

Anyone with long term health problems with:

            Heart disease

            Lung disease

            Asthma

            Kidney disease

            Metabolic disease, such as diabetes

            Anemia and other blood disorders

            Liver disease 

Anyone with weakened immune system due to:

            HIV/AIDS or other diseases affecting the immune system

            Long-term treatment with drugs such as steroids

            Cancer treatment with x-rays or drugs

Anyone with certain muscle or nerve disorders that can lead to breathing
or swallowing problems

Anyone 6 months through 18 years of age on long term aspirin treatment

Residents of nursing homes and other chronic care facilities 

Anyone who lives with or cares for people at high risk for influenza
related complications:

Health care providers

            Household contacts and caregivers for children birth through
5 years of age

            Household contacts for people 50+ or medical conditions that
put them at higher risk for severe complications from influenza

People who provide essential community services

People living in dormitories, correctional facilities or other crowded
conditions

 

What are the risks from inactivated flu vaccine?

A vaccine, like any medicine, could possibly cause serious problems,
such as an allergic reaction.  The risk of a vaccine causing serious
harm, or death, is extremely small.

 

Serious problems from the influenza vaccine are very rare.  The viruses
in inactivated influenza vaccine have been killed, so you cannot get the
flu from the vaccine. 

 

Mild problems:

Soreness, redness or swelling where the shot was given; Hoarseness;
Sore, red or itchy eyes; Cough; Fever; Aches

If these problems occur, they usually begin soon after the shot and last
1-2 hours.

 

Severe problems:

Life threatening allergic reactions from vaccines are very rare.  If
they do occur , it is usually within a few minutes to a few hours after
the shot. 

In 1976, a type of influenza vaccine was associated with Guillain-Barre
Syndrome.  Since then, flu vaccines have not been clearly linked to GBS.
However, if there is a risk of GBS from current flu vaccines, it would
be no more than 1 or 2 cases per million people vaccinated.  This is
much lower than the risk of severe influenza, which can be prevented by
vaccination.  

 

 

 

 

 

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