Senior interdisciplinary studies in diversity studies leadership major Evannrue Cox examines the site of their flu shot injection outside of UCF Student Health Services on Oct. 24. Recent CDC reports indicate flu activity is increasing earlier than normal this season, especially in the southeast region of the United States.
UCF students could expect a difficult flu season this winter as seasonal influenza activity is continuing to increase earlier than normal, according to reports released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Oct. 28.
According to the CDC’s weekly U.S. influenza surveillance report, data shows that in the United States “Regions 4 (southeast) and 6 (south-central) are reporting the highest levels of flu activity.”
With this activity reported in the southeast region, UCF students could expect to experience a more severe flu season than normal.
Kristine Le is a senior nursing major who also works as a student nurse intern with Orlando Health. She said she has noticed an increase in visits for the flu or influenza-like illnesses recently this season.
“Yeah, a lot of generalized sickness, like flu, cold, just things that we don’t really treat that you just kind of have to wait it out,” Le said. “I do see it a lot.”
Florida’s flu positivity rate and flu emergency department visits are considered to be increasing, according to the Florida Department of Health’s current Flu Review for the week of Oct. 16-22.
Students who wish to be vaccinated can get their flu shot from UCF’s Student Health Services free of charge.
Evannrue Cox is a senior interdisciplinary studies in diversity studies leadership major. They said the process to schedule and receive their flu shot at Student Health Services was simple.
“I just walked in,” Cox said. “I’m already on record because I’ve gotten my COVID boosters here before. I just went up and asked, ‘Can I get the soonest available appointment for my flu vaccine and my COVID booster?'”
Le said she was able to receive her Student Health Services flu shot within 30 minutes in between two of her lectures.
“So, I finished class, literally drove two minutes to the health center, walked in and said, ‘I want to get my flu shot,'” Le said. “They made an appointment right then and there. I walked to the office, signed in real quick, and then she called me and gave me the shot.”
Traveling flu clinics will also take place in various locations across campus and are currently scheduled to continue until Nov. 21.
Dr. Kai McKinstry is an associate professor in the College of Medicine whose lab aims to find strategies to develop a universal flu vaccination to protect against multiple strains through the inducing of immune cells such as T-cells. He said some experts believe the absence of COVID-19 restrictions may be one possible reason to explain the increase in flu activity compared to other years.
“Some people are thinking because we probably haven’t bumped into it in the last year or two because of all these restrictions, and that little bit of immunity that we might have as a little boost is gone,” McKinstry said. “And that’s making us as a population even more susceptible. So, that could be one explanation for why it’s seemingly earlier, not just here, but sort of this track around the globe that’s been a little bit advanced.”
According to the CDC’s Seasonal Flu page, “flu vaccination reduces the risk of flu illness by between 40% and 60% among the overall population during seasons when most circulating flu viruses are well-matched to those used to make flu vaccines.”
“I was just looking at an article … that kind of says that the match of the vaccine to the circulating strains this year is pretty good,” McKinstry said. “And so, it’s another good reason to go get it. Because hopefully, we’ll be above average in terms of its protective ability comparing it to recent seasons.”
Cox said students should consider how getting vaccinated for the flu this season could be beneficial for others who may be unable to.
“Nobody ever likes being sick,” Cox said. “So, it’s important to get it for yourself. But also, I think a lot of people forget the fact that there are people who can’t get vaccines, like maybe if you’re immunocompromised.”
McKinstry said students should consider getting the flu shot not just for themselves but to prevent possibly infecting vulnerable family members when heading home for the holidays.
“The best advice for trying to get young people immunized is to say that, you know, when you go home for the holidays, you don’t want to be infected and bring the flu to grandma and grandpa’s house or your young niece’s house,” McKinstry said. “So, it’s more this idea of herd immunity … to protect those at-risk populations by making sure that you are not sort of a vector to introduce the virus to your loved one.”
According to the CDC’s weekly U.S. influenza surveillance report, the “annual flu vaccine is the best way to protect against flu.”
Le said while it’s best to try and get vaccinated before flu season really hits, students should know there’s always time to get their flu shots.
“It’s not too late to get it,” Le said. “If the question is to go get it or not, go get it.”
To learn how to schedule an appointment for the flu shot, visit the Student Health Services website.
