Protect the nest & get the flu shot

By Jordyn Forte

With cold and flu season right around the corner, Health Services is urging students to take advantage of Stonehill’s on-campus Flu Vaccine Clinics.

“We have already held three clinics, and 249 students have been vaccinated. Since this is only 10% of the student population, we want to strongly urge more students to take advantage of this important evidence-based prevention measure, the seasonal flu vaccine,” Maria Sullivan, director of Health Services, said.

“We have tried to make it as convenient as possible by offering these on-campus Flu Vaccine Clinics and hope that many more students will take advantage of this opportunity over the next few weeks,” Sullivan added.

Because we are still in the midst of a pandemic, Sullivan also noted that it is especially important to keep Flu activity to a minimum this semester in order to decrease unnecessary burdens on the healthcare system, as well as to keep communities as healthy as possible.

“Currently, public health officials are describing the exact level of Flu activity this season as unpredictable. Communities are now seeing the return of other common respiratory viruses in circulation, and it is anticipated that we will also experience flu activity once the season progresses,” Sullivan explained, “so, in order to have the best defense, we urge anyone who can get the flu vaccine, to please do so prior to the end of October, per recommendations of the CDC.”

There are three on-campus Flu Vaccine Clinics remaining, and they are scheduled for this Thursday, October 7 from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday, October 12 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Tuesday, October 19 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Sports Complex.

Walk-ins are welcome, but Health Services recommends you to make an appointment to ensure efficient service.