The University of Minnesota has thrown down the gauntlet. Yesterday, the U of M Boynton Health Service set the world record for number of flu shots administered in a single day with over 6,000 shots, shattering the previous record of 3,271. It may be unlikely that Georgetown will beat Minnesota’s record, but that certainly shouldn’t stop us from trying. Georgetown students, staff, and faculty should all take advantage of the free flu shots currently being offered by Student Health Services in Yates Field House.
On a purely selfish level, getting a flu shot is the smart thing to do. The flu vaccine prevents the three predominant strains of the flu, so while it’s not 100 percent effective, it is a reliable protection against infection from November through March, when the flu season ends. At various times throughout the next three weeks, the Student Health Services will offer flu shots for free in the lower level of Yates Field House to anyone with a GOCard, no appointment necessary. (The times are listed on the Student Health Center’s website, http://shc.georgetown.edu.) A prick of a needle later, and you’re almost certain to be free of the coughing, runny noses, feverish nights, and other unpleasant symptoms of the flu. All it takes is a mere five minutes (including the wait in line) for a flu-free winter.
Flu shots don’t only benefit the person getting the shot; they do a service to the entire Georgetown community. It’s especially important for students living in dormitories to get vaccinated—close living quarters and shared bathrooms are prime grounds for the spreading of the highly contagious influenza virus.
Nearly everybody is able to get vaccinated. Unless you have a severe allergy to chicken eggs (the vaccine virus is grown in eggs), are already sick, or are younger than six months old, the vaccine is for you. Despite some urban legends, it is not possible to become infected from the vaccine. The shots contain inactivated viruses—which means they are unable to reproduce upon entering the host. If something does go wrong, there’s a federal program to help pay for medical expenses of anyone who has a serious reaction.
Flu shots are a quick and easy way to stay healthy this winter—and Georgetown is making it easy (and completely free) to get one. There’s really no reason not to. Do yourself and your fellow students a favor and head over to Yates to be vaccinated.
