CORRECTION: The version of this story in the printed newspaper wrongly stated that faculty and staff can receive free flu shots. Free flu shots are only available for students.
The Campus Clinic is offering free flu shots to all students who are currently enrolled at Tyler Junior College. Students must show their ID badges to the clinic to be able to get the free flu shot.
Students who need a flu shot do not need to make an appointment. According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, flu season typically starts in October and it is the most active between December and February.
“There are many different flu viruses and they are constantly changing. The composition of U.S. flu vaccines is reviewed annually and updated as needed to match circulating flu viruses,” according to the CDC.
Depending on the vaccine type, the vaccines will protect against three or four viruses. Students who think they have the flu can go to the Campus Clinic and get tested for the flu. If the test comes back positive, the clinic will give the student a prescription.
“Everybody should get the flu shot, and it takes about two weeks to really get into effect,” Brandi Pate, nurse practitioner at the TJC Campus Clinic, said.
To prevent the flu, Pate recommends students wash their hands in hot water and soap, get the flu shot and try their best to stay clear of sick people.
The clinic is located on the second floor of the Robert M. Rogers Nursing & Health Center, which is on the corner of Fifth Street and Fleishel Avenue. The hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays.
For more information about the Campus Clinic or the flu shots, visit tjc.edu/info/20043/student_support_services/284/campus_clinic, or call the clinic at (903) 510-3862.
