As the cold and holiday season approaches, Oakland University’s Graham Health Center (GHC) has been hosting various pop-up flu shot clinics at Kresge Library, Hillcrest Hall, the Oakland Center and other convenient locations around campus.
630 doses have been administered to students on campus in the semester, including both scheduled appointments and those given at the pop-up clinics.
Additionally, the GHC has partnered with Alana’s Foundation to cover the vaccine cost for students who are uninsured or underinsured. As of Nov. 6, Alana’s Foundation has provided 195 vaccines.
As the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes, college campuses provide an opportune place for flu to spread.
GHC Director Ann Rayford said the goal is to keep students as healthy as possible during the semester.
“We don’t want students to get any upper respiratory or any illness that will put them down and out and miss classes,” she said. “If you have a really severe flu illness, then it can really make it where you’re missing class for one to two weeks.
“The [COVID-19] pandemic taught us that we can do things remotely, and there can sometimes be other ways to be flexible for students to meet their learning objectives,” she added. “But when you’re really that down and out sick, you don’t have the energy to focus. We want to try to prevent that.”
Furthermore, Rayford said the flu vaccine is not only important for an individual’s health — it’s important for the health of the general population on campus and beyond.
“It not only protects you, but it does protect other people,” Rayford said. “Maybe if you have a very strong immune system and you get the flu, you maybe feel like it’s just a cold. But then you could be around someone else who’s immunocompromised, or as we get ready to go home for the holidays… you might be around small children or older grandparents, aunts, uncles, or parents.
“We not only want to reduce the inconvenience of feeling miserable and missing classes and work and things like that, but we also want to make sure that we’re taking care of ourselves and our loved ones,” she added.
Rayford said she encourages students to get vaccinated regardless of where they schedule an appointment.
“Whether they come here or whether they go to a pharmacy or their primary care provider, the best vaccine is the one that they actually receive,” Rayford said. “Wherever that takes place is what we would encourage for them, for their own health and for the health of those around them.”
The next pop-up clinic will be on Nov. 15 in the Pawley Hall lobby from 9:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Attendees are asked to bring their photo ID and insurance card for billing. More pop-up clinics may be scheduled before the end of the semester.
Additionally, students can choose to schedule an appointment instead of attending a pop-up clinic. For more information, view GHC’s website.
Departments and student organizations interested in sponsoring a flu shot clinic can contact Rayford at [email protected].
