Flu virus claims 25 in Oklahoma Stephanie Dorsch TNE writer

Stephanie Dorsch/TNE Student Heath Services offers flu vaccines to NSU students, faculty and staff. The cost is $10 with an NSU ID. With flu season peaking in January and February, it is imperative that students take a flu vaccine. The most prominent months of contracting the flu range from as early as October and can last through May. Some believe if they have a strong immune system the flu will not harm them except for a few aches and chills. While the flu does affect people of all ages with all levels of immune systems, it can be worse for some. According to the Oklahoma County Health Departments, there have been a total of five deaths and 185 hospitalizations in Tulsa County, two deaths and 31 hospitalizations in Muskogee County, and seven hospitalizations in Cherokee County alone. The people who have been compromised by the flu virus are not just infants and the elderly, but people 18 to 49 years old. Because a large segment of NSUs population is from these surrounding counties, the flu has the ability to affect them whether they think it can or not.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the flu shot takes about two weeks before your body becomes immune. The time in between the vaccine and the time it actually takes effect can leave the body open to contract the virus. It is important to understand the risks of not being protected during the flu season and by refusing to take the vaccine. There is still a chance of suffering from the flu even after vaccination, however the chances are much more slim than if you avoid the vaccine all together. There are different strains of the flu to which students may be exposed, and they vary from year to year. According to the CDC, the vaccines are created to fight against the virus, but they are not guaranteed to completely protect the human body due to multiple factors including physical health, age and location. According to FLU.gov, the remedies to prevent contracting the virus include washing hands frequently, taking vitamins and supplements to boost the immune system, taking the preventative vaccine and avoidance of being in close proximity to those who are infected. Students at NSU are at high risk for contracting viruses during the winter months, especially during the months when the flu is so contagious. Students, faculty and staff who have not yet taken the vaccine can go to the student health center on campus to receive the shot. For more information, call 918-456-5511 ext. 2126.