Seton Hall’s last flu shot clinic of the semester is scheduled for Oct. 8 from 12 to 4 p.m., according to Director of Health Services Diane Lynch.
The clinic, which is part of a partnership with Walgreens, will be on the South Orange campus in the Richie Regan Field House. Students are required to make an appointment, according to the University website.
This semester there have been three free flu shot clinics for students and two for employees on the South Orange campus. Additional clinics were held on the Interprofessional Health Sciences (IHS) and Law School campuses, Lynch said in a written statement on Oct. 7.
Students who are unable to attend the flu clinics can schedule an appointment with Health Services to receive a flu shot this year, Lynch said. She added that Health Services urges students to receive a flu shot.
According to Lynch, flu shots can be scheduled in the Health Services office during normal business hours on any weekday.
When asked why Seton Hall offers free flu shots, Lynch said, “Because it’s the most effective way to decrease transmission of flu activity on campus and within the wider Seton Hall community.” She added that the health and safety of the students, employees and faculty is very important to the University.
“The potential severity of the flu, although not equivalent to COVID-19, can be dire,” Lynch said.
The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) website has warned that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, receiving a flu vaccine this year is more important than ever.
“[The CDC] is urging the public to take the flu vaccine to help prevent a severe flu season that could coincide with a potential resurgence of COVID-19 cases—resulting in a ‘twindemic’ that could stagger hospitals and health care workers this fall and winter,” Lynch said.
The fear is that unvaccinated people who become sick with the flu will drain resources from those sick with COVID-19. Another concern is that people may catch both the flu and the coronavirus, further threatening their health and ability to recover, according to the CDC.
Measures have been taken by Seton Hall to safely provide flu shots during the coronavirus pandemic this semester. The reason appointments are necessary this semester is to allow the appropriate and safe distancing between individuals waiting for flu shots, Lynch said.
The Richie Regan Field House was chosen for the clinic location as it allows for both space and ventilation, Lynch said.
Lynch added that the public health and well-being of the Seton Hall community is something that is taken very seriously by both Health Services and the University as a whole.
Students can register for a flu shot appointment via the Seton Hall website.
Marie Leone can be reached at marie.leone@student.shu.edu.
