UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- University Health Services has announced dates for this year’s flu shot clinics, which will be held in the HUB-Robeson Center and in the Student Health Center, and are open to current University Park students.
The clinics will be held:
-- 12:30 to 4 p.m. Monday, Oct. 6, in Alumni Hall at the HUB
-- 10:10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9, in Alumni Hall at the HUB
-- 12:30 to 4 p.m. Monday, Oct. 13, in Alumni Hall at the HUB
-- 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14, in 205 Student Health Center
-- 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Oct. 20, in Alumni Hall at the HUB
-- 1 to 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23, in 205 Student Health Center
-- 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 28, in 205 Student Health Center
-- 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30, in Alumni Hall at the HUB
-- 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6, in 205 Student Health CenterFlu shots are available at these clinics for $18 for current University Park students.
Students should schedule an appointment on UHS' website for the flu shot clinics. Students are able to book an appointment up to a week ahead of the clinic's date. While the clinics will accept walk-ins, scheduling an appointment means students won’t have to wait.
Shelley Haffner, manager of infection control and prevention with University Health Services, advised students to receive a flu shot as early into the flu season as possible. “It takes two weeks after the vaccination for antibodies to develop and provide protection against the flu virus,” she said. “It’s possible to get the flu within those two weeks, although it’s not caused by the flu shot, as some people suspect.”
The most common side effects of the vaccine in adults are soreness, redness or swelling at the injection side that may last one to two days.
Experts with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warn that the flu shot isn’t for everyone. Those who have had a severe reaction previously to a flu shot should not receive an influenza vaccination. Also, those who are moderately to severely ill should wait until they are feeling better to get the flu vaccine.
For students who have either an egg allergy or fear of needles, other flu vaccine options are available this year by scheduling an appointment at University Health Services. These options are not available at the vaccine clinics.
For more information about the flu shot clinics, contact Shellie Haffner at mmh7@psu.edu.