By Alexis Young
Contributing Writer
Wednesday, the Wellness Center hosted its annual flu clinic from 2 to 6 p.m.. The flu clinic was open to students, faculty and staff, along with the surrounding community as a part of the Cattaragus County Health Department’s public health and prevention initiative.
“The mission is to help the general public of your county do preventative wellness type things,” said Roger Keener, Ed.D., the director of the Center for Student Wellness. “We probably get about 150 faculty staff and students, but then, we get another 50-60 people from the general community.”
Allison Field, a junior chemistry major, was one of the students to take advantage of the clinic Wednesday.
“I went because I tend to get sick easily, so I’ve gotten a flu shot every year that I can remember. I’ve never gotten the flu, so they must work,” said Field.
Another student attendee, Shannon Haberman, said the clinic workers were efficient and friendly.
“The women running the flu clinic were extremely nice, and it took only about 5 minutes to register and receive the shot,” Haberman, a senior biology major said. “It was very convenient and an enjoyable experience.”
The Wellness Center’s flu clinic helps students not only protect themselves during flu season; it works to protect the Bonaventure community as a whole—providing what is now being termed ‘herd immunity.’
Darryn Fiske, director of strength and conditioning, attended the clinic on Wednesday for this reason.
“I’m around children who are susceptible to the flu, namely my nephew. So if it’s something that helps me not get the flu, all the better,” Fiske said.
Keener added that the cold and the flu are very different.
“There’s a difference between the cold and the flu,” Keener said. “A cold is something that you sort of have to live through, and the flu is something that I really encourage students to come over here to health services and talk to the nurse practitioner or one of the nurses about taking some kind of prescription medication for because it’s nothing to fool with; the flu is a lot different.”
Apart from getting the annual flu shot, Keener said there are many other ways to protect against the flu.
“Cough into your sleeve, wash your hands and also get proper rest, nutrition and even sometimes taking an extra vitamin, like a multivitamin or an extra vitamin C. Zinc is supposed to be really good for colds and flu so we recommend that,” Keener said.
Additionally, if students were not able to get a flu shot at the on-campus event, the Wellness Center can assist students in finding clinics in the surrounding area. The clinics are accessible to everyone. The only requirement is an insurance card, and there is no deductible fee attached, Keener said.
youngam13@bonaventure.edu
