<em>Illustration by Maya Winshell</em>
Over the past two weeks, Lewis & Clark held two flu vaccine clinics on campus in Pamplin Sports Center.
While these clinics happen annually, LC emphasized that flu vaccinations are even more important during the coronavirus pandemic. The details of these clinics were shared with the student body through emails distributed by Associate Director for Health Promotion Melissa Osmond.
On Sept. 23, Osmond sent out an email to LC students with a message from Chief Psychologist and Associate Dean of Students for Health and Wellness John Hancock.
The clinic on Sept. 25 was held through Health Promotion and Wellness and the LC Health Service. Students wanting to receive a vaccine had to make an appointment through the Health Information Portal, and their accounts were later billed $30.
If students have insurance through LC, they will be fully reimbursed for their vaccines. However, students with other insurance plans might have to cover the costs themselves, depending on their coverage.
Another email sent by Osmond on Sept. 29 contained more information provided from Health Service about the second clinic. This clinic, held on Oct. 6, was larger than the first and was offered through CVS Caremark Pharmacy. For this clinic, students’ health insurance plans were billed directly by CVS Caremark.
In a separate email, Osmond said that although she did not have exact data, both clinics were at full capacity.
“I do know that the CVS clinic had a capacity to do approximately 200 vaccines and the registration was full several days before,” Osmond said. “We expected the demand to be more this year due to COVID-19, but we weren’t expecting it to be so high. But that is a good problem to have.”
Hancock explained why it is important for students to get vaccinated this year.
“If fewer students have the flu, it allows the healthcare professionals in the Health Service to provide more care for whatever other healthcare needs students have,” Hancock said via email. “Having more students vaccinated against the flu will support our providers in diagnosing Influenza and COVID-19 in symptomatic students. A timely and correct diagnosis will also lead to appropriate treatment and help determine if students need to be in isolation related to COVID-19.”
Osmond echoed these sentiments in her email.
“According to CDC estimates, last year’s flu season saw 38 million people sick with flu-like illness, 400,000 hospital visits, and 22,000 deaths in the U.S.,” Osmond said. “Now add COVID-19 on top of that and the potential to overrun hospitals and outstrip the capacity of our healthcare system is a real concern. The more vaccinated (people are) this year, the fewer people contracting influenza, the more resources we have to fight COVID-19 and care for those who do get ill.”
For students who missed out on these two clinics, Osmond said there will be opportunities to get a flu vaccine in the near future.
“We will have other clinics,” Osmond said. “In fact we are working with CVS to schedule (one) for later in October. Contact the Health Service at health@lclark.edu or 503-768-7165 (for more information).”
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