Beatrice Negulescu / Roundup
As the H1N1 virus, more commonly known as the Swine Flu, continues to claim victims, the Health Center is taking action to protect the student body, faculty and staff.
The Health Center, which is located in the Campus Center, will be administering H1N1 vaccines starting mid-October.
Beth Benne, director of the Student Health Center, estimates that it will be approximately another week after the vaccines arrive until they will be made available to the public.
Benne, who has been at Pierce for 16 years, envisions a clinic-like setting where the vaccines will be administered to all who wish to receive one.
No appointment will be necessary, and the clinic will be made into an all-day event that will be the only focus of the Health Center for that day.
This kind of event has never take place at Pierce before and Benne says she “will do the best [she] can to get people in and out.”
The Public Health Department is giving the vaccines to Pierce at no cost, and thus the vaccines will be free for everyone who wishes to get one.
The vaccines will be beneficial to those who cannot afford to get them from the doctor’s office and they will play a large role in helping to keep the Pierce population in good health.
Benne is still figuring out the specifics since the Public Health department expects all campuses to follow strict guidelines on who gets the vaccine.
Among those who will not be allowed the vaccine is anyone with an allergy to eggs. Also, any person with a chronic condition will have to be thoroughly evaluated.
Brittany Mangrum, psychology major, 21, thinks “H1N1 vaccines are a great idea. They will help put students’ minds at ease regarding infection.”
With a recent outbreak of H1N1 affecting an estimated 2,000 students at Washington State University, the vaccines are sure to help alleviate stress in students, faculty and staff alike.
There have been 2,000 vaccines ordered and Benne expects that a great interest will be shown in them.
Benne confirms that the faculty on campus have been among those to show the most interest in the vaccines and she says that “with a captive audience of 30 to 60 students per class [she doesn’t] blame them.”
In the summer it was said that the H1N1 vaccines would be a series of two shots. Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of Health and Human Services, has recently confirmed in a telephone conference that current research has shown that only one shot will be required, making the vaccine available sooner than planned.
When asked how she feels about administering the H1N1 vaccine since the FDA has just recently approved it, Benne answered, “If the human trials have been completed I feel confident about administering the vaccine.”
The Health Center is using a variety of tools to help spread word about the H1N1 vaccines, some of which include the Pierce College Web site and speaking to members of the Faculty Senate.
Benne stands strong on the idea that the best way to deal with the H1N1 virus is “prevention, prevention, prevention.” She seems very enthusiastic about keeping the campus population informed on the H1N1 vaccine and making sure we keep healthy.
Benne has been seen hanging up giant posters everywhere, alerting the college of prevention and handing out hand sanitizer.
For more information on the swine flu and prevention tips, visit http://www.cdc.gov/H1N1FLU/.
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