Fall is upon us, which means it’s time to schedule your annual flu shot. Why should you get a flu shot? Well, for one, the flu is horrible and leads to, at the very least, a loss of productivity at work or class. At the most, the flu can require hospitalization and, in more cases than we care to think about, can lead to death. I don’t know about you, but I want to avoid any and all of that for myself and anyone who comes in contact with me.
But, wait–there’s more!
This is the last quarter of 2020, which means we’re are still elbow deep in COVID-19 with a vaccine under development but still very much the stuff of Fauci’s dreams in terms of deployment anytime soon. Translation: both the flu and COVID-19 will be circulating this fall and winter. Flu vaccinations now will help decrease the number of hospitalizations due to seasonal flu, making those very same hospital beds and healthcare providers available for COVID-19 patients.
Scared of the flu vaccine? Well, don’t be. The flu vaccination does not cause or give you flu. And, serious adverse reactions to the flu vaccination are very rare. I mean, that’s kind of the point of the regulations mandated by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Systematic vaccine development backed by rigorous basic science and tightly-controlled human clinical trials better ensure the safety and efficacy of vaccinations.
Did I convince you to get your annual flu shot? Yes? Great! Now…where do you get one?
As described in the CWRU Daily, the dates for the first 15 flu shot clinics have been announced. The clinics are held between 8:30am and noon on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings in the Veale Convocation, Recreation and Athletic Center Fieldhouse. The shots are FREE for CWRU faculty, staff, and students. No appointment is needed, BUT, please bring your CWRU ID. Also, the staff suggests that you wear a shirt that allows the upper arm to be easily exposed. The current dates for the flu shot clinics are
- Sept. 15–17
- Sept. 22–24
- Sept. 29–Oct. 1
- Oct. 6–8
- Oct. 13–15
More dates will be announced for October and November.
