Temperatures are beginning to drop, which indicates the start of a new season– flu season. Watkins Health Services is offering flu shot clinics across campus until the end of the month to help students stay healthy.

Kameron Macrorie | @kameronmacrorietv

Dr. Pavika Saripalli, an internal medicine primary care physician at Watkins Health Services, said it’s especially important for students to get their flu shots, as they have a higher risk of getting sick. 

“In terms of who gets the flu, by and large, it’s young school-aged, student-aged people that make up the bulk of who carry flu in our society,” Saripalli said. “Students are very closely working together… and living in close quarters. so the student years are when your exposure is probably going to be the greatest.”

Flu shot clinics are offered at well-known buildings on campus until the end of October. 

Walk-In Flu Shot Clinics:

• Tuesday, Oct. 22: Gray-Little Hall, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• Wednesday, Oct. 23: Kansas Union, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• Thursday, Oct. 24: Watkins Memorial Health Center, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Abby Noble is a third-year pharmacy student who volunteered at Watkins’ flu clinic at the Underground on Oct. 16 and said these clinics offer a convenient chance for students to get vaccinated. 

“Yea it’s super easy. We have them all around different locations on campus on different days over the lunch hour,” Noble said. “So all that they need to provide is their insurance info if they have it and their student ID and then we’re able to get them in and out in 5-10 minutes.” 

Allison Bell, a senior who stopped by the clinic at the Underground, said that she gets her flu shot every year and that the clinic made it easy to do so. 

“It’s very efficient to do it this way and we’re around people so often being on campus all the time and with so many students and everything,” Bell said. “It’s so easy to get sick so anything you can do to prevent that is great.”

Dr Saripalli said that flu season begins in December and can last through March and into April, so sometime in October is the ideal time to get your flu shot, as it can take 4-6 weeks to start working.

“The peak flu season is probably not until January, right around the holidays, maybe right after the holidays. So, the sooner the better, it lasts about 6 months,” Saripalli said. 

Patty Quinlan, program coordinator for the clinics and registered nurse at Watkins Health Services, said this ensures students are healthy during the upcoming holidays. 

“This will provide you coverage for when you’re traveling over the Thanksgiving or winter breaks,” Quinlan said. “And it also provides coverage for those that you’re visiting such as the elderly or maybe new members, babies of the family.” 

According to Dr. Saripalli, if students do not receive a flu shot, they risk spreading illness to those around them, especially high-risk individuals.  

“You might pass it to people, and if you’ve got friends or family who are older, have serious health problems, maybe have asthma.” Saripalli said. “You might accidentally give it to them, and then they may get really ill.”
Students can schedule their flu shot through their Watkins Patient Portal or via phone at (785) 864-9500– Watkins also welcomes walkins. For a full schedule of this month’s flu clinics, visit Watkins’ website.