138 WANT TO FEND OFF THE FLU BUG? GIVE IT A SHOT!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 20, 2006
EDITORIAL CONTACT: Gina Logue, 615-898-5081

Health Services and School of Nursing to Provide Inoculations

(MURFREESBORO) – With the flu season on the way, the MTSU School of Nursing will work with Health Services to offer flu shots to faculty, staff and students from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Nov. 7, 8 and 9, Rick Chapman, director of Health Services, says.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 5 to 20 percent of U.S. residents contract influenza each year on average. Annually, more than 200,000 persons are hospitalized with flu-related complications, and about 36,000 Americans die from complications of the flu each year.
Symptoms of influenza include high fever, sore throat, dry cough, runny or stuffy nose, muscle aches, extreme tiredness, and nausea and vomiting, although stomach symptoms are more likely in children than adults.
Dr. Pat Spangler, medical director of Health Services, acknowledges that the flu is highly contagious among people living in close quarters, such as college students living in dormitories or sharing apartment units.
“We strongly encourage everyone, but especially freshmen, to get both the meningitis shot and the flu shot,” Chapman says. “They’re away from home, often for the first time, and Mom isn’t here to take care of them. They have high stress levels, and they’re very vulnerable to infection.”
The CDC recommends vaccination against influenza in October or November, since flu season can begin as early as October and last as late as May.
Physicians advise that the flu shot will not give patients the flu. However, minor temporary side effects of the shot could include achiness, a low-grade fever and some redness or swelling where the vaccination was injected.
Injections of flu vaccine will be administered in Room 109 of the Cason-Kennedy Nursing Building for a fee of $23 each payable by cash or check. Appointments may be made beginning Monday, Oct. 23 by e-mailing Linda Lawrence at lawrence@mtsu.edu. No phone calls, please. Walk-ins will be worked in around scheduled appointments.

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