News

UMaine says swine flu can be ‘serious disruption’ for students

By Maeghan Connor

Posted on Oct. 29, 2009, at 2:12 a.m.

As the swine flu vaccine makes its way to the University of Maine, the administration urges students to sign up to receive it, saying contracting the flu will bring negative consequences.

“I think initially there was a lot of concern,” said UMaine Student Government President Owen McCarthy. “But now, after seven or eight weeks with no imminent danger, I think people might be disregarding it.”

University officials have adapted their plans because of student apathy.

“We have some efforts just now getting underway, [which] communicate with the community the importance of getting a vaccine,” said Joe Carr, director of university relations. “We’ll also be using e-mail and new posters you’ll see on campus.”

Carr stressed the negative impact a case of H1N1 can have on a student’s life.

“A case of H1N1 can cause a serious disruption in a student’s life, and the vaccine can really go a long way toward preventing that. Students will be able to continue their lives on schedule without disruption,” Carr said.

Richard Young, director of Cutler Health Center, emphasized the importance the vaccine plays in the community.

“The data suggests that if one chooses not to be vaccinated, they have an increased potential to propagate the virus throughout the community. The history of pandemic influenza illustrates that vaccination is an effective approach to minimizing the spreading of the virus through a community and or population,” Young said. “Vaccinations diminish the transmission of the influenza virus and improve the health and safety of our entire local and regional community.”

McCarthy said he signed up to receive the vaccination at the free Nov. 9-10 clinics. Those dates have since been changed to Nov. 5 and 6.

“I’ve definitely been washing my hands and using Purell from time to time. I’m just kind of sitting back at this point and living my life as usual. I’m not super concerned,” he said. “I don’t think people should live in fear because of H1N1.”

Currently, university officials are preparing for all situations.

“The university is communicating closely with the Maine Center for Disease Control on the status of vaccine for the state and university. With initiates of this magnitude involving the coordination of many organizations, there is always a chance for challenges and vaccine delivery delays,” Young said. “If the situation presents a vaccine distribution delay, the Emergency Operations Committee will implement one of the alternative plans. The trigger for these alternative plans are based on the date and volume of vaccine available at any given time.”

“It is pointless to make plans now,” Carr said of the necessary change should the vaccine shortage delay the November clinic. “It would be useless.”

Despite the general apathy of students and vaccine concerns, McCarthy remains hopeful.

“We get debriefed about it every week,” McCarthy said. “Usually it’s just, ‘This week was good,’ since so far we haven’t seen anything big. We’re doing alright.”