As COVID cases on USC’s campus have been on the rise, campus healthcare professionals have been extra cautious about flu season. Executive Director of Communications at USC Health, Minnie Ho shares insight on ways to battle the upcoming flu season.
Minnie Ho: The recommendation is for all USC faculty, staff and students to get their flu shots and optimally to get vaccinated in the September and October timeframe right before November one. So everyone is well protected against respiratory season illnesses like flu.
With November 1st around the corner it is important to learn the repercussions of skipping out on the Flu shot this season.
Ho: Some experts are predicting a what has been called a triple-demick, which is a combination of illnesses, respiratory illnesses that can include both flu, COVID 19 and RSV, which is also another respiratory illness.
Battling the triple-demic can seem difficult, but following Ho’s advice can limit the spread of these illnesses.
Ho: Staying home if you are sick, that’s one of the more important things you can do if you have symptoms. And until you can figure out what’s going on, stay home. We also have COVID tests, the antigen kits available throughout the campuses for pick up. These are available at the USC bookstores, at the customer service centers in USC Housing, and they’re also available at the student health centers.
Many students also expressed the importance of getting vaccinated. Vishnu Reddy, a junior majoring in Journalism, says that getting vaccinated helps keep immunocompromised students safe.
Vishnu Reddy: There’s a lot of people out there who are immunocompromised and cannot maybe get their own flu shots. It’s important that we all do our part.
Avery Lord, a freshman, also suggested that other students should do their part in keeping each other safe.
Avery Lord: Everyone’s in such close tight quarters stuff spreads super easily. So having this event for free can really help promote student health and diseases like that, especially for people who are in ... a more vulnerable state or maybe have other underlying health conditions to not catch things like the flu.
Trojans can get their flu shots at no additional cost at a USC Pharamcy. For more information, check out the Student Health Department’s Flu and U page.
For Annenberg Media, I’m Arun Cherukuri.