As Kenyon prepares for the transition from a toasty fall to a sharp winter, bundling up in fuzzy fleeces and woolen gloves is not the student body’s only concern. On Oct. 16, the Cox Health and Counseling Center offered a free Flu Shot Clinic in the Peirce Lounge to help mitigate the spread of seasonal influenza.
Influenza is a contagious, respiratory illness that spreads through droplets when infected people cough, sneeze or talk. It can cause symptoms like coughing, sore throats, muscle aches, fatigue and more. Although most people recover within a few days to weeks, the flu can cause severe harm in young children, the elderly, and those with certain health conditions. The flu vaccine is typically offered in the fall and aimed to guard against upcoming winter outbreaks.
Alice Teall, Kenyon’s senior director of wellness, expressed that the main goal of the clinic was student convenience. “By offering the clinic in the Peirce Lounge, we hoped to increase accessibility and visibility — making it easier for students to get vaccinated, and promoting awareness about the importance of flu prevention,” Teall wrote in an email to the Collegian. “Ultimately, we wanted to support the health and wellness of our community.”
When students arrived to receive a flu shot, they were asked to fill out a form with their student ID numbers and answer several questions before receiving their shot. The estimated wait time was 15 minutes, though for most it took less.
“It was so easy,” Abby Warshauer ’27 said. “I was just here to eat lunch at Peirce, then I walked in, filled out a little form and sat for maybe like five minutes and got my vaccine.”
Mosss Szaraz ’27 had a similar experience. “It was really easy and quick. I just filled out this form that didn’t have many questions, and I waited for just a little bit and was able to get it pretty quickly,” they said in an interview.
By the end of the clinic, the Health Center had vaccinated about 300 students, according to one administrator of the vaccine.
Students who would like to receive flu shots but have missed the clinic are still able to do so. According to Teall, the Health Center still has flu shots available, and students can schedule an appointment to receive one at no extra cost. “While we won’t have another ‘vaccine clinic,’ we will continue to give flu shots at the [Health] Center during our hours of 8:30 a.m. [to] 4:30 p.m., [Monday to Friday],” she said. She noted that students can call 740-427-5525 or email health@kenyon.edu to schedule a convenient time to come by.
Students can further decrease their chances of catching the flu by washing their hands and disinfecting surfaces which are frequently touched. They can also boost their immune system by sleeping, eating nutritious meals, getting daily exercise and staying hydrated.