Joanna Orban
Copy Editor
As the pandemic continues into its eighth month, much of the conversation around the virus involves the timetable for the release of a vaccine.
In the first presidential debate between President Trump and Vice President Joe Biden, both candidates spent a significant amount of time discussing their predicted timelines for a vaccination.
Something equally important but less discussed is the influenza vaccination, often a divided topic. While many people do not get the vaccine, it has numerous benefits.
One reason that many people do not get the vaccine is that they feel like it actually gives them influenza. According to Rex Force, Idaho State University Vice President for Health Sciences, this isn’t the case. “The vaccine is an inactive virus. It is not capable of causing influenza-like illness. What it is capable of is having our body have an immune response to it.”
Some of these immune responses include a low-grade fever or even minor aches and pains. It is also important to note that the body takes about two weeks to develop an immunity to the vaccine.
For college students, getting vaccinated for influenza is a good idea. Idaho State University encourages its students to get vaccinated. Students can get vaccinated on campus through the Bengal Pharmacy and University Health.
Even though a lot of college students do not have insurance, Force still encourages students to get the flu vaccine.
“If there is a charge, it should absolutely be the minimal amount that is charged. We’re not making money on flu shots,” said Force. “We’re not going to use cost as a barrier.”
Another reason Force recommends that students should get the flu vaccine is because it is actually possible to get the flu and COVID-19 at the same time. If that occurred, students would be more likely to be sick for a longer period of time.
“It’s nothing to mess with,” said Force. “The reason to get it is you’re not going to miss class, you’re not going to miss school and you’re less likely to have complications.”
Force also recommends that people should get the influenza vaccine so students will not have to go to the doctor and take up additional medical resources and testing capacity. If students get the flu shot, doctors do not have to try and decide if they have COVID or if they have the flu.
If students cannot get a flu shot on campus, there are many other places around town where it can be done. These include the health department, urgent care providers and pharmacies. Many grocery store pharmacies like in Walmart and Albertsons are already providing flu shots.
The Walmart Pharmacy has set up regular times for flu shot clinics. The times are every Tuesday from 7 am-11 am and every Thursday from 2 pm-6 pm. According to Walmart’s website, flu shots are no cost with most insurances. The Albertsons Pharmacy also states that flu shots are no cost with most insurances. As Force said, “It should be easy to find a place to get a flu shot.”
Some other places around town where students can get the flu shot include Walgreens, Maag’s and Shaver’s.
