Kaleb Poor
Peak flu season is approaching, and Laramie’s healthcare providers are trying to nip the influenza virus in the bud by encouraging the public to get flu shots.
“We just encourage everyone to go out and get those flu shots,” said Mary Beth Bender, interim director of Student Health Services at UW. “There are very few people who shouldn’t get the vaccine.”
While the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) weekly influenza report indicates that flu rates remain low, this week they are also on the rise. In the CDC’s report, 2.4% of tested specimens nationwide were positive for an influenza virus, a slight increase from the previous week.
The CDC reported regional flu activity in Louisiana. Idaho and Nevada reported localized flu activity, while Wyoming is reporting only sporadic activity. While flu season has not yet begun, officials are urging people to get vaccinated now.
“Flu season has actually already started,” said Bender. “It started in the last week of September… and the flu shot takes two weeks to become fully effective, so we really encourage people to get vaccinated early in the season.”
University of Wyoming students can get vaccinated through Student Health Services in the Cheney International Center on campus for $20. Bender stressed that getting a flu shot is even more important for those who spend time around very elderly or young people.
“It not only helps protect yourself against the flu, which could mean missing several days to a week of class and work,” said Bender. “But providing that herd immunity helps protect those who can’t get the vaccine.”
Herd immunity is the concept of immunizing large swaths of a population against illnesses to prevent outbreaks. Preventing the spread of influenza is important in protecting infants, who cannot be vaccinated immediately following birth.
Bender said the likelihood of the flu spreading on campus increases when people return to campus after travelling home for the holidays.
“We do tend to see an uptick in flu cases here on campus after those breaks,” said Bender. “We know that some of our students are definitely going to be at more risk of exposure, so we really encourage them to get that flu vaccine here in the next week or so.”
While it is still too early to tell when flu season will begin in earnest, it is certainly coming. UW students spend most of the winter inside and in close proximity to one another, making it important for students and faculty to protect themselves.
The UW Wellness Center will hold a flu shot clinic for benefitted staff and faculty today. Wyoming Health Fairs also holds weekly screenings in Laramie, where flu shots are available for $25. Students can also get the flu shot on campus through Student Health Services for no more than $20.
Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) weekly influenza report
