When the temperatures drop faster than the leaves, it signifies the beginning of a new season in Wisconsin — flu season.

Maxim Health Systems and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Norris Health Center have partnered together to offer a two-day flu vaccination clinic in the Union Concourse.

Students, faculty and the general public can walk into the clinic without an appointment and receive their vaccination from 1 to 7 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 7, and 1 to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 8.

The vaccine costs $25 this year. Multiple vaccination stations will be available during the two-day clinic to minimize waiting times.

“Since many of our students are not insured, this is a convenience,” said Julia Zimmer Bonner, Norris Health Center director.

While Bonner encourages all students and faculty to receive the vaccination, those who are over 60 years of age, pregnant, diagnosed with asthma, or a parent with children under two years old belong to a priority group of vaccine recipients.

“A healthy individual who gets the flu will probably be unhappy for a few days,” Bonner said. “But those in the priority group get complications.”

Bonner said the flu is a “self-limited illness,” which means antibiotics are ineffective and healthy individuals will recover.

For those within the priority group or those who cannot attend the two-day clinic, the Norris Health Center accepts appointments prior to and after the clinic.

Norris ordered and received 200 doses of the vaccine this year for students who are unable to attend the clinic.

Bonner said Norris only sees student patients, so faculty and staff should take advantage of the two-day clinic.

Unlike last year when shortages of the vaccine deterred the public from getting vaccinated, Colleen Bernstein, a registered nurse and health educator at Norris, said there is no such shortage this year.

She said the supply is “adequate.”

“Traditionally, we have more supply than demand, as turned out to be the case even last year,” Bernstein said. “Our hope is to get as many people vaccinated as quickly as possible this year.”

Bernstein said that the sheer volume of students in dorm and classroom environments increases their potential exposure to the flu. Students can reduce that risk by healthy hand washing, covering their mouth when they cough and staying away from others who are sick or have the flu.

Influenza is an extremely contagious virus characterized by fever and respiratory symptoms such as cough, sore throat and nasal congestion. Headaches, muscle aches and extreme fatigue typically accompany flu symptoms.

Bernstein said the peak month for flu season is January, so she urges students to take advantage of the clinic or at least get vaccinated before December. “Influenza can take you out for two weeks,” Bernstein said. “(Getting the vaccine) is a simple thing. You wouldn’t want to be out the last two weeks of exams or even during the Christmas break.”

For those with medical concerns or those who cannot attend the two-day clinic, the Norris Health Center accepts appointments before and after the clinic.
To learn more about the flu vaccine, visit the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention Web site at www.cdc.gov/flu/.

For more information on the flu clinic or to make an appointment, contact the Norris Health Center at 229-4716.

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