Students want to know, “Where’s our H1N1 flu shots?”

Although sociology instructor Muketiwa Madzura is afraid of needles, he made it through his shot. According to Jill Lawrence of NCC's Human Resources, 175 faculty and staff members got shots Oct. 21 from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. at the on-site clinic. (Photo by true grimes).
In light of the annual flu shot clinic for faculty and staff in the Kopp Student Center Oct. 21, some Normandale students have ask about a flu shot clinic just for them. This question has come about because of the college’s milestone fall enrollment and the widespread campaign to keep the 10,095 students up-to date about the H1N1 swine flu.
About a month ago, there was a “very initial discussion” in a meeting with NCC President, Joe Opatz; Ed Wines, vice president of finance and operations; Erik Bentley, director of campus security and the city’s public health department, according to Bentley.
Bentley also said the student flu shot clinic could be a possibility in case of a full-blown pandemic or if the H1N1 shots even became available.
If that happens, “Bloomington Public Health Department would at least consider the possibility of coming to Normandale,” Bentley said, “assuming a lot of conditions – if there was enough of the vaccine and if they even received it.”
On Wednesday, Wines confirmed there was nothing new in terms of a possible student clinic.
“I have no further information from the health department,” Wines said. “I’ve not heard anything further. To my knowledge, no college official has.”
When asked if he could see a student flu shot clinic in the near future at NCC, Wines said, “At this point, I really don’t know.”
Currently, the H1N1 vaccine goes to those of high-risk first – pregnant women and children – as well as first responders and healthcare workers. Since children 2-24 years of age are in that high-risk category, Bentley said NCC students would get the H1N1 vaccine before the faculty and staff here.
The dean of student affairs, Gail Cywinski, said there were other factors to consider before NCC hosted a student flu shot clinic.
Is there enough of the vaccine? Is it available? Because some students go to a family doctor or clinic, is this something they even want?
For students who do not have insurance cards, can they afford it? Who would assume the costs?