Campus Health Offers Flu Vaccine Clinics for Wolfpack Community

The start of fall is a beautiful time on NC State’s campus – the leaves are turning, temperatures are dropping, football season is in full swing and the State Fair is on the way. 

However, the start of fall also means flu season is right around the corner. Fortunately, Campus Health is once again ready to help members of the NC State community safeguard themselves and their loved ones from influenza viruses. 

Starting Sept. 23 and running through Dec. 9, Campus Health will run flu vaccination clinics for NC State students, faculty and staff at various locations around both main and Centennial Campus, as well as NC State’s vet school. Last year, campus health administered nearly 3,600 flu vaccines, and hopes to give at least 4,000 this year. 

“It’s great that we get to work with all of our campus partners and different places around campus to be able to offer these walk-in clinics,” said Tyler Pearce, Campus Health’s assistant director of community health. “The flu vaccine is a free preventative service with the majority of insurance plans.”

Campus Health is also offering options for scheduled vaccine appointments at the Campus Health pharmacy, and will soon have a limited number of updated COVID-19 vaccines available. 

Pearce said that on a college campus with so many congregate living, dining and study spaces, getting vaccinated against the flu takes on additional importance. 

Each year, a new flu vaccine makeup is produced based on flu trends around the globe and the most common flu strains that health experts expect to see in the United States. The vaccine triggers a person’s body to produce antibodies against the flu, in order to fight off infection after a possible exposure, or, if a person does contract the virus, make it less severe. 

Flu season typically runs from late fall to early spring, and cases in North Carolina often peak in January and February. Pearce encouraged the campus community, especially those with travel plans, to get their vaccines as soon as possible, as it usually takes about two weeks for a vaccinated person to reach peak immunity. 

“The flu is a contagious respiratory virus and it can be pretty serious for some people, especially for infants, the elderly and people with underlying medical conditions,” Pearce said. “The first and most important step for preventing that and protecting yourself, your friends and your family is to get that annual flu vaccine.” 

The full flu clinic schedule follows (subject to change, visit go.ncsu.edu/flushot for the most up-to-date schedule):