Health center sees rise in number of flu cases
Austin Fast
Issue date: 1/22/08 Section: Front Page
Luckily, the women were able to borrow a resident adviser's car to go fill the prescription uptown.
According to Gustin, the health center ran out of the medication for a couple reasons.
"We never know when flu season will hit," Gustin said. "We do always get a three-week period where the flu hits us, but it's sometimes as early as November or as late as March."
This three-week period seemed to begin in conjunction with the start of classes Monday, Jan. 14, complicating what is traditionally an incredibly busy day.
Gustin also explained that it is not cost effective to maintain large stores of any one medication, especially expensive prescriptions such as Tamiflu.
"We typically do not keep a high inventory on expensive prescription items due to budgetary reasons until we know the need," Gustin said. "The pharmacy makes orders daily to restock depending on the need. We receive our orders the
following day."
Although the health center ran out of Tamiflu on that particular day, they were able to refill their supply the next day. According to Gustin, she ordered more Tamiflu last week to try to keep ahead of demand as much as she can.
Gustin also suggested that students who are ill make an appointment with the health center before they come in
for treatment.
"We can be prepared for them if they have appointment times so they don't have to sit around and feel badly at the health center," Gustin said.
She also suggested that it is not too late to get a flu shot from the health center.
"We still have flu vaccine available," Gustin said. "It's still appropriate to get the flu vaccine if you haven't been exposed."
According to Gustin, the health center ran out of the medication for a couple reasons.
"We never know when flu season will hit," Gustin said. "We do always get a three-week period where the flu hits us, but it's sometimes as early as November or as late as March."
This three-week period seemed to begin in conjunction with the start of classes Monday, Jan. 14, complicating what is traditionally an incredibly busy day.
Gustin also explained that it is not cost effective to maintain large stores of any one medication, especially expensive prescriptions such as Tamiflu.
"We typically do not keep a high inventory on expensive prescription items due to budgetary reasons until we know the need," Gustin said. "The pharmacy makes orders daily to restock depending on the need. We receive our orders the
following day."
Although the health center ran out of Tamiflu on that particular day, they were able to refill their supply the next day. According to Gustin, she ordered more Tamiflu last week to try to keep ahead of demand as much as she can.
Gustin also suggested that students who are ill make an appointment with the health center before they come in
for treatment.
"We can be prepared for them if they have appointment times so they don't have to sit around and feel badly at the health center," Gustin said.
She also suggested that it is not too late to get a flu shot from the health center.
"We still have flu vaccine available," Gustin said. "It's still appropriate to get the flu vaccine if you haven't been exposed."
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BV
posted 6/08/09 @ 4:03 PM EST
We never know when flu season will hit. We do always get a three-week period where the flu hits us, but it's sometimes as early as November or as late as March. (Continued…)
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