The recent nation-wide shortage of flu vaccines is affecting more than just the young and elderly populations.

Jason Reese, a pre-med and biochemistry sophomore and volunteer with the Syracuse University Ambulance cannot get a flu shot, something that worries him in his line of work.

‘Even if you’re in the health care profession, it’s hard to find (a flu shot),’ Reese said. ‘Normally (SU Health Services) will give it to us for free, but they don’t have any. I’m going to be working with people who haven’t been administered the vaccine themselves, so that puts me at risk as well.’

Reese is one of many groups of people the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have tried to focus on with the remaining supplies of vaccine, according to its Web site. But the shortage, which has put millions of people in the United States at risk this flu season, has left people like Reese and other students looking for a vaccine, something SU’s Health Services can not provide.

‘We have no flu vaccine,’ said Matt Kiechle, health education and wellness coordinator with Health Services. ‘We don’t anticipate receiving any, either.’

Health Services ordered their flu vaccines manufactured by the Chiron Corporation, which had its license to produce the vaccine suspended for three months, reducing the amount of flu shots available in the United States by about half, according to the CDC Web site.

Kiechle said that Health Services doesn’t know exactly how many students at SU are at risk for the flu this year. Health Services ordered 1,400 doses of the flu vaccine last year, according to Kathleen VanVechten, director of nursing at Health Services.

‘Students probably won’t be able to get a flu shot,’ VanVechten said. ‘Many students chose not to get it in the past, but in recent years there’s been more interest because we have marketed it more.’

In order to deal with the shortage, the CDC decides how and to whom hospitals and health care service centers across the country can administer the vaccine.

According to the CDC Web site, priority for the vaccine must be given to children six to 23 months old, adults over 65, all women pregnant during flu season and health care workers who are normally in direct contact with patients.

‘Generally, students are healthy, but some have chronic medical conditions which make them more at risk for the flu,’ said VanVechten. ‘Health Services has received several calls from students’ parents concerned about the shortage of vaccine.’

Health Services will have a shipment of the nose spray vaccine FluMist, but instead it is focusing on a prevention campaign to limit the spread of the virus.

‘We are recognizing it as an issue,’ Kiechle said. ‘We are implementing a hand-washing and hygiene campaign in the weeks to come. The emphasis is on prevention. (The situation) is no different than at any other university.’

VanVechten called for students to drink lots of fluids, rest, avoid smoking or drinking alcohol, use Kleenex and avoid crowded environments in order to avoid increased risk of being affected by the virus.

She said students should contact Health Services immediately if they develop symptoms.

‘There is a sudden onset of symptoms, which include high fever, body aches and cough,’ she said. ‘Medication is effective within the first 24 hours of getting the flu.’

Published on October 18, 2004 at 12:00 pm