Update: flu shots available for limited time
By Allison Sundaram
Cowell Student Health Center announced Thursday that they will be able to provide a limited amount of flu-shot vaccinations on-campus, starting Monday.
Before the recent announcement, Santa Clara students would have not be able to receive shots on campus for the second year in a row.
The flu is on the nation's mind with the recent President Bush-approved $7 billion package designed to combat avian flu. At a recent summit in Geneva led by the World Health Organization, officials warned of a flu pandemic that could cause severe monetary damage and high death tolls around the world.
Cowell's supplier, Darby Drugs, was unable to deliver the pre-ordered vaccine due to shipping issues with Chiron, the pharmaceutical corporation that manufactures the vaccine ordered by Cowell.
"They are not releasing the product in the amount or time one would have anticipated, and in smaller amounts," Peggie Robinson, clinic manager at Cowell said.
While the lack of vaccines in Cowell might have remained a minor issue, it is made worse by the cancellation of a vaccine clinic that would have been held on campus in November. Maxim Health Services, which is contracted to provide the vaccine clinic is also facing the same availability issue.
Maxim was originally scheduled to hold a clinic in Benson Memorial Center on Nov. 2.
Some students were not aware that Santa Clara provided vaccinations on-campus, or were not planning on getting the shot in any case.
"I don't get sick that often," freshman Amy Crockford said. "I don't think its going to affect me."
Others have made alternate arrangements, such as primary care providers. "I usually just go to my own doctor," freshman Thanh Quang said.
Chiron has been in the news over the past year due to contamination problems. In September 2004, its manufacturing facility in the UK was shut down by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, the British equivalent to the US Food and Drug Administration. The MHRA found contaminants at the plant.
Santa Clara did not receive flu vaccine last year because of the MHRA investigation, and the subsequent suspension of Chiron's production license.
Chiron was not Santa Clara's first choice; however, pre-orders for other vaccines closed quickly, within "24 hours," according to Robinson. When she tried last spring to place orders from other manufacturers, they had been filled up by corporations ordering in bulk. Robinson has plans to order from a different manufacturer next year to avoid any future problems.
According to Robinson, Santa Clara is not alone in the lack of vaccine availability. However, Loyola Marymount University, which also contracts with Maxim Health Services, provided its students with a flu shot clinic earlier in the school year.
The lack of options shouldn't deter students from getting their flu shots, especially those most vulnerable to getting the flu, according to Robinson.
Robinson said that the students who are most at risk are those with chronic medical conditions such as asthma or diabetes. Students who are primary care providers for someone who is chronically ill are also at risk.
According to the Wellness Center Web site, things like eating a balanced diet, getting sufficient exercise and rest, hand-washing, drinking plenty of fluids and taking aspirin to help lower fevers can help prevent the flu.
Flu symptoms include muscle pains, weakness and fever.
Students have several options off-campus for their flu shots. They can contact their primary care physician, or use the internet site www.flucliniclocator.org to find flu clinics in the area. Also, The Santa Clara Public Health department is providing flu shots on a first-come, first-serve basis for $15. For more information, call the public health department at (408) 885-3980.
Contact Allison Sundaram at (408) 554-4546 or at asundaram@scu.edu.