As the fall season begins, sound the alarms because this year’s flu season is beginning as well.
Flu season is typically between the months of October and March, when the year is at the coldest and students are already noticing classmates absent from class for being sick and even catching the flu themselves.
“People have been sick like crazy lately,” said Matthew Velasco, a fifth-year biology student. “It’s been traveling around. I even caught it for a while.”
(Anela Miki-Han | The Poly Post)
During last year’s flu season, the Cal Poly Pomona Student Health Services (SHS) treated 197 students for the flu and gave around 1,200 flu vaccinations to students on campus.
Although the SHS refers to these statistics, the staff cannot calculate how much of the campus was affected by the flu last year or what to expect for this year’s season.
“It’s still too soon to predict what to expect for this year,” said Carla Jackson, health educator at the Bronco Wellness Center. “Currently, (the) flu worldwide is at low-to-expected levels.”
However, with colder days, packed classrooms and all-night study sessions taking place on campus, students are susceptible to getting sick with the flu.
According to Kim Rubalcava, the SHS charge nurse, it is recommended that students should always try to wash their hands and keep them away from their face, nose, eyes and mouth as one of the best ways to prevent getting the flu. Touching those areas will increase their chances of obtaining a respiratory illness.
A flu shot is also recommended by the SHS in order to prevent such illnesses.
“Student Health Services will be administering a vaccine that will help to protect against four different types of flu virus,” Rubalcava said. “The flu vaccine usually reduces the risk of influenza by 40-60%.”
This week, SHS will provide flu shots to all CPP students at no charge. Flu shots will be provided in the Bronco Student Center during these dates and times:
Oct. 8 from noon to 4 p.m.
Oct. 9 –10 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Oct. 11 from 9 a.m. to noon
According to Jackson, staying at home is the best solution to recovering quickly from the flu, along with getting plenty of fluids into your system and eating dense nutritious foods.
For additional help, visit https://www.cpp.edu/~health/ or go to the Health Services Building (46) for more information or to receive medical attention.
