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from the issue of December 8, 2005
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Health Center sticks 500 flu vaccinations in one day
UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS
Faculty, staff and students came early, flowed in over lunch and by mid-afternoon on Dec. 11, nurses at the University Health Center gave the last of 500 influenza vaccinations.
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| | | WALK-IN VACCINATION - Keith Hovermale, a bus driver with Parking and Transit Services, waits as a University Health Center nurse readies to give him an influenza vaccination. Hovermale was one of 500 faculty, staff and students who took advantage of a walk-in clinic on Dec. 1. Photo by Troy Fedderson/University Communications.
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"We did use them all," said Jennifer Snyder, marketing coordinator for the Health Center. "Actually, we gave about 300 in the morning. Then, by around 3:30 p.m. we gave the last one."
The walk-in vaccine clinic was scheduled from 9 a.m. to noon, then 1 to 4 p.m. However, before 9 a.m. Snyder said 20 inoculations had been given and nurses continued to give shots over the lunchtime break.
"We just figured, if people were coming in, we were not going to make them wait," Snyder said.
Due to vaccine production problems, the Health Center was unable to hold a flu shot clinic a year ago. And this year, Snyder said the Health Center requested 3,500 doses of the vaccine to conduct 10 different clinics across UNL's two campuses, but only received 500.
Snyder did not know specifically why the request was not met.
"We were told earlier in the season that it was not going to be a problem, then we had to wait like last year," Snyder said. "Every year there is something that delays the vaccine somehow. We are just happy to have these 500."
So were UNL faculty, staff and students who opted to get the $20 inoculation.
"I've gotten a flu shot every year except for last year," said Keith Hovermale, a bus driver with Parking and Transit Services. "And, I've never been sicker then I was last year.
"That made me a believer."
Due to the limited number of inoculations, the Health Center sent letters to students who are at higher risk for getting the flu, allowing them to gain access before the clinic. Then, Snyder said the balance of the vaccine was made available to the entire campus.
In the first three hours, from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., six nurses and a handful of others directing traffic and taking payments, averaged 100 inoculations per hour.
"We have a pretty good system for getting people through," Snyder said. "I think everybody was pretty glad we were offering them. But, it's also good to get them in and out quickly."
Snyder said about 80 percent of the vaccine went to faculty and staff, the remainder to students.
Snyder said a number of vaccination options exist for those who were unable to attend the walk-in clinic. She said the Nebraska Department of Health has reported the vaccine is readily available across the state.
"There are other options in the city that you can look for," Snyder said. "But, people should also remember that hand washing is the number one defense against illness.
"If you take care of yourself, there are ways to avoid the flu."
GO TO: ISSUE OF DECEMBER 8
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