Steven Budzinski
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buying many more.4 Indeed, this conservative
Influenza: The approach to steadily buying and administering
vaccines may be fiscally beneficial for the
Unforeseen Killer University (as there is less of a risk of unused
vaccines), but UHS consistently runs out of
vaccines, this year in January, and may not give out
“On average, college students who
as many vaccines as students want. And, as we are
get the flu experience up to eight or all versed, the Center for Disease Control
more days of illness along with recommends receiving the flu vaccinate in early
fall, right before flu season begins, but still specifies
increased rates of healthcare use,
that “[g]etting vaccinated later can still be
school absenteeism, and impaired beneficial and vaccination should continue to be
academic performance.”3 offered throughout flu season, even into January or
later”.3
Kyler Baughman was a 21-year-old
bodybuilder studying to be a personal trainer at his But besides the shortage of vaccines, the
local community college when he came home for current system also does a poor job at informing
winter break and began showing symptoms of the students of the various benefits of vaccines. Again,
flu; he and his family thought nothing of it. Within Michelle Hafner stated that UHS “orders such a low
two days Baughman’s health took a turn for the number of vaccines because they do not expect
worse, and after two days of an off and on fever, he many students to actively seek out flu vaccines.”4
went to his local emergency room. He died less than So even if the University did buy more vaccines,
24 hours later. An autopsy performed on Kyler there is still not a great enough need. Thus, UHS is
found that his body was plagued with the influenza stuck in a stagnant system of not enough
virus causing septic shock and multiple organ vaccinations being supplied or demanded, leaving a
failure. “It doesn’t seem real” said Kyler’s mother large percentage of its students unvaccinated. Yet
Beverly, “I think he thought, 'I just got the flu, I'll this problem is not exclusive to Penn State.
be alright. I'll just go rest a little bit.” Kyler, like According to the National Foundation for Infectious
most other college students thought that the Diseases there is a widening gap between colleges
influenza virus was just a mere inconvenience, students who believe that flu vaccines are important
while as we all know, it has the potential to kill.1 (70%) and those who actually get a flu vaccine
(46%).5 Despite this, some colleges have had found
Although University Health Services success in their efforts to increase vaccination rates,
(UHS) continues to protect some Penn State proving that UHS can benefit from change,
students from the flu, Penn State consistently ranks especially by building on its current infrastructure
as one of the worst rates of vaccination in America, and efforts.
with its current rate of 6% crawling to get to the 8
to 39% college vaccination rate.2 Thankfully no one
has been seriously affected, but there were over 400
reported cases of the flu just last year, with an
unknown amount of unreported cases. As you are
aware, vaccination rates are increasing at Penn State Taken the National Foundation for Infectious Disease2
(reported by Infectious Disease Manager and
Campus Health Liaison, Michelle Haffner) with
UHS distributing 2888 vaccines this year, a 1100
increase from last year, but UHS is still hesitant to
2
influenza outbreak. According to the CDC in order
Mandatory Vaccines: to completely remove the risk of outbreak, at least
95% of the particular population must be
Radical but Efficient? vaccinated, a near impossible goal.7 One example
One radical solution proposed by Senator of this can be found in some Californian hospitals,
Bill Cassidy of Louisiana last March is that schools where although flu vaccines are mandatory (with an
should mandate student vaccinations.6 Although he option of opting out) fewer than half of the workers
was talking about public elementary and high get vaccinated annually.8 Of course, there were no
schools in his discourse, taken to a University level, repercussions to opting out at the hospitals, but if
UHS could mandate that the flu vaccine be there is a significant lack of participation in a
mandatory for all students in a similar way that the hospital environment, how can it be expected to
MMR vaccine is required. As the UHS policy on work for apathetic college students?
the MMR vaccination stands now, if a student does
not submit either a immunization verification form
or an immunization waiver form, a registration hold
Appealing to the Heart
will be applied to the student’s LionPATH account
of Penn State Students
“Penn State consistently ranks as Clearly, both the current system and the
one of the worst rates of vaccination ultimatum of mandatory vaccines both have their
in America, with its current rate of problems, and thus I am proposing a plan focused
on both education and incentivizing vaccines. In
6% crawling to get to the 8 to 39% 2017, the National Foundation for Infectious
college vaccination rate.”2 disease found that 61% of college students were
more willing to become vaccinated if there was
restricting any future enrollment of classes. As a either a monetary or other material incentive given
result, a large majority of campus is vaccinated for out during vaccination.2 Although this option may
Measles, Mumps, and Rubella, significantly appear to
decreasing the infection rate of all three diseases.
Similarly, if the flu vaccine were mandatory, the
amount of people with the flu would decrease, and
reduce the risk of disease outbreak.
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best incentives for college students.”10 For example, worry about the risks, education must be carried out
in 2008, the University of Minnesota charged the to validate to college students that flu vaccines can
student body with helping them break the Guinness only help, not hurt. Currently I am creating an
World Record for the highest number of educational PowerPoint with accompanying script
vaccinations in one day, generating an impressive that addresses a variety of these misconceptions
11,538 flu vaccines for only 32,000 undergraduate while demonstrating how beneficial flu vaccines are
students.11 Extrapolating that fact to Penn State’s (you can find both in the attached).
46,000 undergraduate population, along with its Educational campaigns have been shown to
historic competitive spirit, and UHS could see a increase flu vaccination rates, as it deters
record amount of flu vaccines being administered in misunderstandings, and helps participants better
the years to come. Wayne State University also understand the risks of not getting vaccinated.13
took to leveraging their university’s competitive
spirit by looking to create a competition among its
colleges to see which college could get the most flu TOP REASONS
vaccines, and accordingly found so much success
they won the State University Flu Vaccination
COLLEGE
Challenge for medium-sized schools.12 Should Penn STUDENTS
State look to also utilize its competitive spirit, I DON’T GET FLU
believe it would see a vast increase in flu
vaccinations, while engaging students to become SHOTS
more excited about flu vaccines.
“Lotteries, giveaways, and And for when and where to present this
competition are among some of the information, I recommended presenting the flu
vaccination information at the freshmen seminar
best incentives for college classes to ensure all undergraduate students (besides
students”10 transfers) are educated on the topic. Under the
without it, and they do not think it will work.4 University’s Academic Administrative Policies and
Evident by the beginning story, however, the flu’s Procedures Manuel, freshmen seminars are required
symptoms can span from time consuming to life to “acquiesce students [to] learning tools and
threatening, and even if college students are on resources”; UHS could easily take advantage of this
average healthier than the rest of the population, requirement and disseminate correct information
they are still susceptible. about vaccines to clear up any misunderstandings
that students have.14 Should UHS petitioned to the
Regarding the other misconception that the University to include this valuable information in
flu vaccines does not work, or that college students freshmen seminars (either by asking instructors to
directly discuss the benefits of flu vaccinations or
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asking instructors to point to the UHS website for rates. And although UHS has a history of
further knowledge), I believe UHS would see an conservative vaccine purchases, UHS should look
increase in the amount of vaccinations to buy more vaccines (both injection and nasal
administered. based) to increase the availability of flu vaccines on
campus. Should UHS decide to enact any or all of
A final recommendation that I have is about these policies, I am positive that Penn State will see
the remaining 31% of college students who do not a spike in vaccinations and be well on its way to
receive flu vaccines primarily because they do not fulfilling the CDC’s Healthy People goal.
like needles. Currently there exists a nasal vaccine
that can be purchased for a similar price and from
the same retailers as normal injections.15 The CDC
also states its approval of the nasal spray to be used
in supplement to injections, and therefore, UHS
should take steps to obtain the nasal spray flu
vaccine to broaden the amount of Penn State
students that are vaccinated.
Conclusion
All in all, there is a clear need for a change
in flu vaccination policy at Penn State, as the
current movement is too inefficient at spreading the
word about the benefits of vaccine while still not
garnering enough activism within its undergraduate
population. However, the ultimatum of mandatory