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Flu vaccinations available this week, but only for those considered at risk

Three weeks ago, there were no signs that Eastern Michigan University would have any flu vaccine shots after the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced there was a vaccine shortage nationwide.

Now EMU, just recently, has come into a limited supply. However, because there are only a limited number of vaccine doses available, only those individuals who are on a University at-risk list are eligible to stop by Snow Health Center to receive their flu shot.

NEEDLE NATURE: Kathy Taylor, a clinical nurse
at University Health Services, draws serum in
preparation to administer a flu vaccination.
University Health Services recently received a
limited supply of flu vaccinations that will be
available for faculty, staff and students
considered at risk. Flu shot clinics for those
considered at risk are scheduled Thursday,
Oct. 28; and Friday, Oct. 29.

"Snow Health Center has received a very limited number of flu shot doses," said Ellen Gold, director of Snow Health Center. "It will be our goal to serve the priority and high-risk groups. The number of doses we have won't go very far."

Flu shots are available only to those students, faculty, staff and their spouses who are in the following CDC priority groups: adults 65 years or older or adults to age 64 years with underlying chronic medical conditions.

Those individuals considered at risk actually started receiving notification calls from Snow Health Center Oct. 19 that vaccine doses were available, Gold said.

"We have called our regular chronic patients over 65, the faculty and staff who have always come to us," Gold said. "We've asked them to come in before our regular flu shot clinic. We wanted to avoid a Meijer situation where people are waiting in line for hours (to receive flu shots)."

Gold was referring to long lines of people who began showing up at 6 a.m. Oct. 18 to receive flu shots offered at the Meijer store on Carpenter Road in Ann Arbor.

Vaccinations — again, only for those on EMU's at-risk list — will be available during scheduled flu shot clinics on a first-come, first-serve basis until the supply is depleted during the following times: Thursday, Oct. 28, 9 a.m.-noon; and Friday, Oct. 29, noon-4 p.m., first floor, Snow Health Center.