Wintec Prepares for the Annual Flu Season
By: Kahu Miller, Wintec Journalism student. Posted On: Thursday, 6 May 2010
Wintec campuses are offering students the latest flu injection before this year’s winter snap kicks in.
The vaccine is available now through the city and Rotokauri campus Health Centres at the cost of $12 for students. Health Centre staff said a large number of staff and students have already had their immunisation shots.
This year the influenza vaccine has been boosted to include protection against the pandemic influenza of 2009, Swine Flu (H1N1). It does not protect against all strains of the virus, just those recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for New Zealand.
Since the world outbreak of the virus early last year, the WHO has recorded almost 17,000 deaths across more than 200 countries. While most of the swine flu attributed deaths occurred around America, Europe, and Asia, there is still concern for its possible effects here.
Immunisation is free for those who are considered to be 'most at risk' such as pregnant women, diabetics, and those who are aged 65 and over.
Primary health care nurse, Kaylene Henderson, said the Wintec Health Centres are promoting the vaccine to try and reduce the number of people affected by influenza this year. "As a large campus the chance of the flu virus being spread through computers or person to person contact such as sneezing, is intensified," she said.
The effect the virus could have on students' study is also a factor. She said that students often continue to go to class when they have the flu because they are worried about missing too much.
For those getting the vaccine there is a requirement to complete an immunisation consent form and wait for 20 minutes after the vaccine has been administered. This post injection wait is standard with the administration of any vaccine as there is a slight risk a person could have an allergic reaction to the treatment.
As the winter onslaught draws near, students are being encouraged to take extra care with campus hygiene to help reduce the spreading of the virus. Nurse Henderson recommends using the computer wipes on keyboards available from the Student Helpdesk in the hub and regular hand washing with warm water and soap. She also recommended the use of hand sanitiser to kill germs.