By Wyatt Crosher, Communications Coordinator for Student Affairs
With the fall semester fully in swing, there are plenty of things to be excited about on UNC Charlotte’s campus.
But the fall also brings the start of flu season, something that impacts millions of people worldwide every year. The Student Health Center is helping limit the spread of influenza by offering flu vaccine clinics for students, faculty and staff over a six-week span starting on Thursday, Sept. 29.
Emily Stewart, associate director of clinical services, campus outreach and health equity for the Student Health Center, said getting the flu vaccine is as valuable as ever for the safety of not just the individual, but also those around them.
"The flu vaccine is an important preventative step in protecting yourself and your family and friends against the flu,” Stewart said. “It's important to understand that, through a cold and flu season with COVID continuing to circulate, those symptoms all look very similar. It’s important to do what you can to protect yourself from various viruses that are circulating during this time.
“There is no vaccine for the common cold, but there are vaccines that protect against COVID-19 and the flu. We highly encourage both vaccines.”
The first Flu Vaccine Clinic will be in the Student Activity Center (SAC) food court on Sept. 29. The full list of dates and locations are as follows:
- Thursday, Sept. 29, SAC food court
- Tuesday, Oct. 4, SAC food court
- Thursday, Oct. 13, SAC food court
- Tuesday, Oct. 18, Cone Center, Lucas Room
- Thursday, Oct. 27, SAC food court
- Tuesday, Nov. 1, SAC food court
All clinics will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m, and appointments can be scheduled here. There are no out-of-pocket costs with most major insurance carriers, and those who get the vaccine should bring their medical insurance card and prescription insurance card (if applicable).
Any questions should be directed to the Student Health Center at 704-687-7400.
Charlotte has offered on-campus flu clinics in the past, but this year the Student Health Center is working with the School of Nursing to have nursing students involved in everything from assessing clients prior to the shot to administering the vaccine to checking in on patients afterward to see if there are any adverse reactions.
Dr. Jamie Brandon, clinical assistant professor for the School of Nursing, teaches the Population Focus Nursing course that features the students that will work in the upcoming clinics. She said it is a valuable experience for the students, and that it will have a positive impact on the University as a whole.
"It's a great opportunity to partner with the nurses at the Student Health Center because the students get to see the roles that those nurses play in keeping everyone on campus healthy. It also provides the students a chance to be in the role of a nurse,” Brandon said. “This is also an opportunity to see the impact this has in our community. This keeps everyone healthy and shows we're taking care of each other. It's important everywhere, but especially on our campus.”
Stewart, who previously graduated from Charlotte’s nursing program, also said incorporating the nursing students is a win-win for everyone involved.
"Speaking as a prior nursing student at this University, I think any opportunity that you have to advance your skills is very valuable, especially when you're able to provide such a valuable service on your campus,” Stewart said. “You're contributing to the health and wellbeing of both your friends here and, more broadly, everyone on campus. It's a great opportunity to not only improve your skills, but also impact the health of your community.”
Brandon emphasized the importance that getting the flu vaccine has, both on the individual and on everyone in the Charlotte community.
“It may not be as harmful to some of us as it is to others, but if we take that personal responsibility and vaccinate ourselves, then we're taking care of not just ourselves, but also those that really need help taking care of themselves,” Brandon said. “It's just an easy way that we can take care of each other."