Swine flu doses arrive; still no clinic
Despite receiving 200 doses of the H1N1 vaccine, Student Health Services (SHS) will not hold a clinic yet to distribute the vaccine.
SHS originally requested 2,500 doses of the swine flu vaccine but only received 200, said Medical Director of SHS Dr. Egilda Terenzi on Monday. SHS also requested 500 doses of the seasonal flu vaccine.
“There are less doses than expected because the swine flu and season vaccines are both being produced in the same laboratories,” she said. “Only so many doses can be made at one time.”
SHS will give priority to high-risk students, such as pregnant women and health care workers, while it waits for more doses, Terenzi said.
“We have been and will keep putting in orders for more,” she said. “We will continue to follow CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) guidelines while we try to get as much of the vaccine as possible.”
Terenzi said SHS expects to receive more of the vaccine, but can’t predict when and how many doses it will receive.
Part of the reason SHS received such a small amount is because Hillsborough County’s highest priority is young children, Terenzi said. Schools across the nation are having the same problems acquiring doses, she said.
Terenzi said H1N1 vaccine cultures, which are grown in hen eggs, are not producing as well as expected, contributing to the shortage of doses.
A health clinic, where students would be able to receive free shots for the seasonal flu, was originally scheduled for Oct. 23. It has been postponed, however. SHS still hopes to hold it in the future, Terenzi said.
More Stories
USF joins the Association of American Universities
USF has accepted an invitation to join the Association of American Universities (AAU) according to a universitywide email from President Rhea Law on Thursday morning. The AAU is a “prestigious” group in higher education composed of 71 research universities, according to the email. Member universities earn the majority of competitively awarded federal funding for research […]
Students pleased, concerned for DeSantis’ 2024 presidential run
When she found out Gov. Ron DeSantis had announced his run for the 2024 presidential election, international student Shaikh Raisa Afreen said she was scared of what lies in her future. “We know very well that he is not very lenient with diversity coming in over here. That’s maybe understandable. Maybe that’s good for the […]
BOT ACE committee approves grant application, degree termination
The Board of Trustees’ (BOT) Academics and Campus Environment (ACE) committee approved a grant application for the Eileen Hoffman Hafer UMatter program, an updated Master Plan for ONE USF and the degree termination of the Master’s in foreign language education in a Tuesday morning virtual meeting. UMatter is applying for a grant renewal of $2.5 […]
New Nursing/STEM building at Sarasota-Manatee campus in final design stages
USF is finalizing the design for the new Nursing/STEM building at the Sarasota-Manatee campus to expand its accelerated nursing program, according to Regional Chancellor of the Sarasota-Manatee Campus Karen Holbrook. The 75,000-square-foot building was designed by Willis A. Smith Construction – a general contractor from Sarasota – architects and an ideation committee of around 80-100 […]
BOT finance committee approves recreation fields relocation plans, capital improvement plan summary
In a virtual Tuesday morning meeting, the Board of Trustees (BOT) finance committee voted to approve a recreation field relocation plan and a five-year capital improvement plan summary to be sent to the Board of Governors for approval. Due to the construction of the new on-campus stadium, various currently-operational student recreational facilities will be displaced. […]
Judy Genshaft Honors College not operational due to supply chain delays
The new Judy Genshaft Honors College (JGHC) will not be operational until June 12 due to supply chain delays and to conduct systems checks, according to Director of Communication and Engagement Aaron Nichols. A sign on the doors of the JGHC reads “We appreciate your interest in our beautiful new building, but it is still […]