Getting a flu shot is now out of the question: according to Gannett’s website, due to recent high-demand, it no longer has any flu vaccines available.
According to Gannett, Cornell’s Health Service, “the seasonal flu of 2013 has hit early and is unusually intense”. It recommended getting a flu vaccine as the best way to prevent illness from the flu.
Students evidently followed this advice. When contacted, a representative from Gannett cited that 11260 total people, 5620 of whom are students, received the flu vaccine during this year’s flu season. This is up by nearly 2000 recipients as compared to last flu season, when 9376 total people received the flu vaccine. More students went to Gannett with flu-like illness this year, too. So far, 454 students have been received by Gannett with flu-like illness, up from 232 students by this time last year.
A representative from Gannett explained why the number of sick students might be significantly larger this year: “another slightly complicating factor related to comparing each season’s numbers in terms of flu like illness cases is that NY State expanded the definition of “flu like illness” this season to include a greater number of combinations of symptoms. So, the numbers are not exactly comparable even when looking at the limited dates due to the newly expanded definition of illness in 2012/13 (our numbers are likely to be slightly higher this year due to this expanded definition than they might have been otherwise)”.
To prevent the flu, students are encouraged to wash their hands regularly and keep a good balance of sleep, exercise, and healthy eating.
