Feb. 4, 2013
Eleanor Skelton
[email protected]
There are more than 20 million students in America, and more than 10,000 of them are at UCCS. Their opinions matter.
Mezen Ibrahim, MPA and ESL studies
Have you ever had a flu vaccine?
I took [the flu shot] before I came here … Jan. 14 from Saudi Arabia. Everybody ask[s] me, “Did you take the flu shot? Did you have the flu before?” But in our country, maybe it’s not that cold, that’s why we didn’t have the flu. Because the weather there is mostly hot during the year. I ask for the flu shot [for the first time before coming here], and my doctor also recommended [it] when he [knew] about my traveling here … I was recommended to have a flu shot when [I came] to the Springs.”
Tim Fisher, junior, computer engineering
Have you ever had a flu vaccine?
No. I think it’s a waste of money and a waste of time. I haven’t [had one]. Never in my whole life. I haven’t had the flu since eighth grade. I’ve never had the shot, and I’ve never had the flu.”
Parker Boyce, sophomore, electrical engineering
Have you ever had a flu vaccine?
Yes.”
Did you have one this year?
Yes. I think it’s nice to have a flu vaccine, even though the way the vaccine works is it gives you a spectrum of possible viruses that may develop this year, not the actual virus … But I think it’s nice to not have to worry about getting the flu, so that way you can study longer without being sick.”
Do you ever think you’ve gotten sick from the flu vaccine? Have you ever had the flu?
No. [I haven’t had it] recently that I can remember. I did get sick during “dead week” last semester, but I don’t think it was the flu.”
Lauren Russ, senior, psychology
What do you think about flu vaccines and have you had one this year?
I have not had a vaccine. I think that [the] flu vaccine could be really, really good for people that are prone to getting the flu … or people that have illnesses where getting the flu would be really dangerous for them, but I haven’t had the vaccine thus far in my life that I’m aware of unless my parents had me take it when I was much younger. But I think that it has its pros and cons.”
Have you ever had the flu that you can remember?
Yes, I did, back in elementary school at one point. I don’t remember much of the sickness, just more that I got to stay home with Mom and read books. I’ve had the flu before; it was just a really long time ago, so I don’t remember much about it … I know it’s really bad, and I think for freshmen or something living in the dorms, in such close proximity all the time, that it would be something much wiser to consider.”