The Otterbein Health Center is now prepared to vaccinate the Otterbein community.
The first two clinics, held on Dec. 10 and 11, were for adults between the ages of 19-64 with underlying health conditions.
The third clinic was held on Dec. 14 but included all students, faculty, staff and families, regardless of underlying health conditions.
According to Ann Pryfogle, director of Student Health Services, the Health Center immunized over 250 people during the three clinics.
Travis Matson, junior music business major, received the vaccine in December.
"I'll be going to China next year with the concert choir, so I might as well get protected, plus my mom kept harping me about it," Matson said. "The whole routine was quick and painless. No harm, no foul. It's a typical shot."
"Right now we have more vaccines available, so we are holding another clinic today between 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m," Pryfogle said.
There is also another clinic on Tuesday, Jan. 12, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 2:30-4:30 p.m.
The vaccines are free and available to all students, faculty, staff and family members.
Although the Health Center offers these clinics, "students can come in anytime," Pryfogle said.
Pryfogle said the health department had a list of priority groups who received the vaccines first.
"We had to go with when we could get it, which happened to fall during break," Pryfogle said.
She said that the health department is preparing for a third wave of the H1N1 virus. During 2009, two waves of the virus hit. The first was in April, the second in the fall.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the number of H1N1 cases has decreased countrywide.
However, the CDC also said that during the next few months of the season, the flu will come and go, whether it is caused by H1N1 or regular seasonal flu viruses.
The CDC says that along with a seasonal flu vaccine, people should also get the H1N1 vaccine, which is the best way to protect against the virus.
"During fall quarter there were over 100 cases (of the H1N1 virus) that I'm aware of (at Otterbein)." Pryfogle said.
Whereas the Health Center cannot test for H1N1, they advise any student with flu-like symptoms to either stay in their dorm room, or go home if they live within a 200-mile radius.
"We have to make sure the hall directors do things like make sure the sick people are getting food. There are people with meal plans that normally eat at the dining hall, so we are trying to get them help with that. If there is a roommate situation, we try to decide which roommate could move out, the sick one or the healthy one," Pryfogle said.
Pryfogle advises any student with symptoms to either visit the health center or go to an urgent care center. The Health Center takes students during two-hour periods daily.
"If a student gets in before the two hours are up when the doctor is in, they will be seen," Pryfogle said. t&c;
