Students Receive Flu Vaccination Among COVID-19 Pandemic

By: David Chen, Ashley Jiang, Catherine Wu

On Monday September 27, students and faculty at the Academy received their flu vaccinations in the Forrestal Bowld Music Building. These vaccinations happened amidst a cold outbreak that resulted in a surge of sicknesses around the Academy community.

Many students commented on why they chose to get their flu vaccinations. “I’ve always gotten the flu vaccine back home just as a precaution, and these past two years it felt especially important because of the pandemic. In general, though, it’s always nice to just be more prepared for the flu season,” senior Emma Liu said.

Others thought about the impact they would have on other students and faculty. “I chose to get the flu vaccine because I felt like I had a responsibility to protect vulnerable people around me, and at very little cost to me,” lower Rex Bedwick said. “Furthermore, seeing everything in the news about hospital bed shortages across the country made me realize that were I to get seriously sick, I may have a hard time getting the care that I need.” 

History Instructor Dionna Richardson said, “[The flu vaccine] was needed and worth it, so I'd do it again to keep my family and the community safe. It's really an essential step in the middle of the pandemic, not only to keep everyone here from getting sick, but to keep people out of the hospital with the flu to free up more beds for those with COVID and more severe afflictions.”

Some faculty believed the flu clinic to be strictly for students and there was confusion within the faculty whether the flu clinic was available to them. “I was under the impression faculty was not meant to use these clinics,” History Instructor Troy Samuels said.

There was also confusion among the students regarding the mandates of the vaccine. The Academy required students who did not receive the vaccination on Monday to go to the Health Center on Wednesday, Sept. 29, for the flu vaccination. The new email explained that the vaccine was mandatory. “I did not know about the vaccination on Monday, but I got an email from Dr. Lilly the next day saying to come get the vaccination on Wednesday which is when I went,” lower Laurie Chung said.

Some students did not get the flu vaccination at the Academy due to other reasons. Prep Teddy Duncker received his COVID vaccination very recently. “I’m taking another [COVID] injection in a week and so I can’t have another vaccine in the week between,” Duncker said.

Some students received the vaccination from other flu vaccination clinics. “I did not get the flu vaccination at Exeter because I got it at CVS already,” lower Audrey Zhang commented. 

Students noted the flu vaccination clinic’s effective and organized structure. “I thought it was very efficient,” lower Ayaan Akhtar said. “It didn’t take too long, maybe 15 minutes, and there were probably 10 people. The nurses were very friendly and helpful in getting my vaccine because it was very quick.”

Liu agreed. “The whole process was really smooth. The doctors administering the vaccine were really efficient, so I was in and out within 5 minutes. The people assisting in other ways were also very friendly and helped me feel at ease. There weren't that many people when I went, but I assume it's because I went when some dorms were still doing their dorm activities for ALD [Academy Life Day],” Liu said.

Students who received the vaccination had a wide range of symptoms. “I ended up coming down with a fever the day after I got the shot. I checked myself into the health center, stayed for the night and didn't go to classes or practice the next day. I felt fully recovered by the end of the day, though. I really appreciated how thorough and kind the staff at the Health Center were,” Bedwick said.

Several students experienced minimal side effects which did not affect school work. “I had a sore throat and sore arm, but these both went away after two days,” Tam said.

Senior Krisha Deora had similar side effects. “I experienced a headache and my arm was sore, but it wasn’t that big of a deal.”

Other students experienced no symptoms from the flu vaccination at all. “I had no symptoms, the shot did not hurt at all,” lower Advay Nomula said.

Receiving flu vaccinations amidst the COVID pandemic raised concerns from various students. “It does get a bit worrying and I usually try to get tested if I'm feeling sick. I think it was a lot better in Taiwan because of how rare COVID cases were, but being in the US isn't too bad either because of how common and accessible COVID tests are,” Liu said.

“It can be very worrying,” Lu agreed, “especially before it is taken to a professional. You always want to be better safe than sorry and assume that you have contracted COVID, but that thought can also be very scary. But I think by getting the flu vaccine, you eliminate a large portion of the probability of getting the flu in the first place and so there is some level of certainty when you do experience flu-like symptoms.”

Many students felt safer with the Academy’s health and safety resources. “I guess it can be scary but knowing we have the resources to help treat it is reassuring that most people are vaccinated for both flu and COVID,” Akhtar said.

Bedwick said, “you definitely have eyes on you when you're sick, since COVID symptoms pretty much encompass everything from a headache to a fever. But it's pretty easy to get into the Health Center and get tested, which should alleviate most people's concerns.”