UWindsor Students Can Now Get Flu Shots on Campus

The University of Windsor is now providing flu shots ahead of the winter season.  

Tiff Murray, a pharmacist at Elmdale Pharmacy says, getting a flu shot is especially important for university students… 

“The flu can certainly mess up your routine– it’s hard to go to class when you can’t get out of bed.” 

Murray says university students spend time in common spaces, so the chance of transmission is higher. “Isolating isn’t really an option for most university students, and unfortunately the flu is most transmissible before you develop symptoms, like a fever or chills that would tell you to stay home.”  

Fear of the flu shot stems from misinformation; Murray adds. stud

When someone hears that the flu shot is full of antigens and formaldehyde, they don’t necessarily understand the significance of the terms like that formaldehyde occurs naturally in our bodies, but all they can think of is the foul-smelling chemical that preserves dead animals in grade 9 biology class.” 

“I’m not against the flu shot, I’ve just never gotten one before,” says Heidi Glithero, a fourth-year science student. 

Olivia Stanton, a fourth-year UWindsor student says she hasn’t gotten a flu shot either, “I’m not opposed to it, but I haven’t gotten it because I know people who have gotten sick.” 

Murray says that the belief that someone can get the flu from getting the flu shot is false. 

“Nobody gets the flu after the flu shot. It only contains “dead” pieces of the flu virus that cannot reproduce and cannot cause an active infection. The short-lived collection of symptoms caused by the immune system responding to the little bits of the virus, or the antigens, is a good thing. It means that your body is recognizing a foreign protein and activating its defenses.” 

Nicole Magcaleng, a third-year engineering student says “I get the vaccine to try to not get sick. My family and I have been getting the vaccine regularly since covid, since we are being more cautious about our health.” 

“The bottom line is that the flu shot has an excellent history of safety and efficacy,” concludes Murray. 

The flu shot is available from the Student Health Services on campus by calling 519-973-7002 to schedule an appointment, or through the University Pharmacy by visiting their website.