UB's Student Health Services is arming students against one of the season's most prevalent illnesses - the influenza virus.
The 2003-04 strain of the influenza vaccination, commonly known as a flu shot, is free to UB students with a valid UB Card and costs $10 for UB staff and faculty.
The vaccine is being administered by licensed medical technicians in the Student Union lobby between Oct. 27 to 30 and Nov. 10 to 14 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and in the basement of Michael Hall Nov. 5 to 7 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
"If you get a real honk-honk flu it can ruin your whole semester," said John Schank, a family nurse practitioner who administers shots to the UB community. "We think that it's worthwhile to make it as easy for people to get immunized as possible before they go home for their Thanksgiving break."
Schank said public travel is the primary cause of influenza cases, and since students do a lot of traveling during the holidays, offering the shot is a necessity.
"Just traveling on an airplane or public conveyance you stand at least a one-in-three chance of getting an illness," he said. "If there happens to be influenza, you can end up five or six days later getting pretty sick."
Five hundred people were vaccinated Monday and Tuesday, according to Schank.
"We had to cut off the line on both days," he said.
Schank said he believes the ease of accessibility attracts students, staff and faculty alike to the service.
"It was convenient to be able to stop into the Union in between classes to get it," said Kar Lok Leung, a sophomore accounting major.
For more information on receiving a flu shot, visit the Health Services Web site at:http://www.student-affairs.buffalo.edu/shs/student-health/ or contact Susan Snyder or Frank Carnevale at 829-3316.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
