We have long been used to requirements for immunizations to attend school and even college, but flu shots?
Yes flu shots.
Do You Have to Get Flu Shots in College?
This year, many colleges and universities have started to mandate that students get a flu shot if they are taking classes on campus.
And it is very easy to understand why…
“Compounding the COVID-19 pandemic with an influenza outbreak on Creighton’s campus would place the community’s health and safety at risk, decrease the likelihood that the fall 2020 semester is completed in-person and would tax the Omaha medical community’s resources.”
Flu vaccination required by Nov. 1.
So far, the following colleges and universities will require influenza vaccine this year:
- Boston College
- Boston University
- Butler University
- Creighton University
- Cornell University
- Dordt University
- Duke University
- Elon University
- Harvard
- MIT
- Northeastern University
- Purdue University
- Rochester Institute of Technology
- Rosalind Franklin University
- Syracuse University
- Tufts
- University of California system – ten campuses
- University of Massachusetts – five campuses
- University of Miami
- University of Pennsylvania
- University of Southern California
- University of Tennessee system – four campuses
- Wabash College
- Wayne State University
But even if your college doesn’t mandate a flu shot, keeping in mind that all colleges and universities in Massachusetts require one this year, be sure to get vaccinated and protected against the flu.
“Influenza can spread rapidly on college campuses because of high-density living conditions and frequent social interactions.”
Barriers Associated with Seasonal Influenza Vaccination among College Students
We are already seeing rising rates of COVID-19 on college campuses.
No one wants to see flu outbreaks too.
“Influenza vaccination was associated with substantial reductions in ILI and ILI-associated health care use and impairment of school performance. College and university students can experience substantial benefits from influenza vaccinations.”
Influenza vaccination among college and university students: impact on influenzalike illness, health care use, and impaired school performance
Although even without thinking about the COVID-19 pandemic, it is important that college kids get a flu vaccine each and every year so that they don’t get sick with the flu.
More on Flu Shots in College
- I’m Not Anti-Vaccine, I Just Don’t Believe in Flu Shots
- Going Back to School During the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Can Flu Shots Cause the Flu?
- Do They Really Just Guess at Which Strain to Put in the Flu Vaccine?
- When Should I Get My Flu Shot?
- What Are the Benefits of the Flu Shot?
- What Are the Side Effects of the Flu Vaccine?
- What Makes the Flu So Deadly?
- IAC – Ask the Experts about Flu Vaccines
- IAC – State Laws and Mandates by Vaccine
- Flu Vaccine Now Required for all Massachusetts School Students Enrolled in Child Care, Pre-School, K-12, and Post-Secondary Institutions
- Flu vaccination required by Nov. 1.
- Barriers Associated with Seasonal Influenza Vaccination among College Students
- Low uptake of influenza vaccine among university students: evaluating predictors beyond cost and safety concerns
- 2009-2010 seasonal influenza vaccination coverage among college students from 8 universities in North Carolina
- Student utilization of a university 2009 H1N1 vaccination clinic
- Modeling seasonal influenza outbreak in a closed college campus: impact of pre-season vaccination, in-season vaccination and holidays/breaks
- Influenza vaccination among college and university students: impact on influenzalike illness, health care use, and impaired school performance
- Understanding influenza vaccine perspectives and hesitancy in university students to promote increased vaccine uptake