Photo by Jeff Shaw

It’s that time of year when health officials urge Americans to head to clinics or their doctors’ offices for a flu vaccination. University of Houston faculty, staff and students, however, can merely walk across campus to UH’s Health Center to receive this service.

Earlier this year, the center provided flu vaccinations only to students, faculty and staff who met the criteria of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) priority list. CDC now is allowing agencies to provide vaccinations to the general public.

So, the health center has begun offering flu vaccinations to all faculty, staff and students for $16. Vaccination hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Wednesday. Faculty, staff and students must present a valid UH identification or another photo identification and agree to remain at the center for 15 minutes after receiving the vaccine.

The shots are being distributed on a first-come, first-served basis until supplies are depleted, according to Floyd Robinson, Health Center director. He added that the center has ordered 1,500 doses of flu vaccine.

“One of the myths that I want to dispel is that people can contract the flu from the vaccine. This is false,” Robinson said.

To avoid contracting the flu, Robinson recommends paying close attention to personal hygiene.
“Coughing into your elbow is preferred to coughing into your bare hand. Washing hands often, especially before eating and preparing food, is a must,” he said.

Robinson also noted that current flu vaccinations do not protect against the avian flu.

The avian flu is a contagious disease of animals caused by viruses that normally infect only birds, but have, on rare occasions, infected humans, according to the CDC.

The most recent outbreak of avian flu among humans, which began in mid-2003 in Southeast Asia, was caused by a particular strain of the flu, H5N1, according to the CDC. Health officials worldwide are concern that the strain will change into a form that is highly infectious to humans and spreads easily from person to person.

“Currently, a vaccine against H5N1 strain of the flu is under development,” Robinson said. However, no vaccine is ready for commercial production because scientists will need to develop a vaccine that closely matches the particular virus that triggered the pandemic, Robinson explained.

The Health Center’s pharmacy does carry Tamiflu—one of two drugs that may reduce the severity of the avian flu, according to Robinson.

“We will dispense Tamiflu only to those patients who have been diagnosed with the avian flu by one of our physicians,” he said.

Robinson added that the Health Center has formed a committee to create an emergency plan in case an avian flu pandemic occurs.

Francine Parker
fparker@central.uh.edu