UF urges vaccinations, safety steps to prevent spread of infections

October 24, 2007

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The University of Florida Student Health Care Center is joining with the Healthy Gator 2010 Coalition in a fall campaign to promote good health and prevent the spread of infectious diseases on campus.

UF is urging students, staff and faculty to receive vaccinations for influenza and meningococcal meningitis and to take other daily precautions.

“The importance of vaccination in the prevention of meningococcal disease and influenza cannot be overemphasized,” said Dr. Phil Barkley, center director. “In combination with a common-sense approach to the prevention of common upper respiratory illnesses, the morbidity and mortality due to these diseases can be reduced.”

Influenza and meningococcal meningitis spread easily, but are easily preventable with vaccinations. Even healthy college students are at risk of these diseases because of large and crowded classes, shared living spaces and a hectic stressful lifestyle, Barkley said.

Getting a flu vaccination now will provide ample time to build antibody protection against influenza before the cold and flu season starts. Flu shots are available at the Student Health Care Center for $5 for students and $25 for faculty and staff.

College students seem to be particular risk from Meningococcal meningitis, which has affected two other state universities during the last few weeks. A student from the University of South Florida afflicted with the disease died three weeks ago. A second student, from the University of Central Florida, became critically ill last weekend and remains in serious condition.

Meningococcal meningitis hits quickly and the illness can lead to swelling in the brain, coma and death. A vaccine, Menactra, is available that decreases, but not completely eliminates, the risk. It costs $126 at the Student Health Care Center. Although the vaccine is mandatory prior to registration for new students, students can waive the requirement after they’ve read about the disease and vaccine.

The Student Health Care Center is open to administer both vaccinations from 8 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. For information on when and where flu shots will be given elsewhere on campus, check the center’s Web site at www.shcc.ufl.edu.

Besides vaccinations, the chance of contracting bugs and illnesses can be greatly reduced by following a few simple practices such as frequent hand washing, according to Jane Cullen, associate director for nursing at the center. Washing your hands for 15 seconds (or long enough to recite the ABC song slowly) with plenty of soap and water is an excellent way to protect yourself and others. It should be done before and after eating, after using the bathroom and before preparing food, she said.

Other easy ways to prevent the spread of germs include using a hand sanitizer if a sink is not available, covering a cough or sneeze with a tissue, coughing or sneezing in the crook of your arm, wiping surfaces regularly with disinfectant wipes, and not sharing drinks or eating utensils with others, according to Cullen.