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Flu Shots

Symptoms         

Treating the Flu               

Avoid Spreading the Flu

Avoid Catching the Flu                  

Symptoms

  • Fever
  • Chills
  • Headache
  • Cough
  • Sore throat
  • Runny nose
  • Muscle/joint aches
  • Fatigue
  • Vomiting/diarrhea (sometimes)

Worrisome symptoms

Seek medical care as soon as possible if any of the following symptoms occur:

  • Fever over 102°F (39°C) that does not come down below 100°F (38°C) with fever reducing medicine
  • Severe headache
  • Stiff neck - unable to touch your chin to your chest
  • Sudden dizziness
  • Confusion
  • Rash
  • Severe cough not helped by cough medicine
  • Shortness of breath
  • Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
  • Vomiting that prevents keeping down Gatorade, 7-Up, sweetened tea
  • Flu-like symptoms that improve but then return with fever and worse cough

Students can call  Studet Health Services at 406-994-2311 to schedule an appointment or speak to the after-hours nurse advice line. When the clinic is closed, student can also visit an Urgent Care Clinic or the Bozeman Health Deaconness Hospital ER. 

High Risk Groups

People at risk for complications of influenza include (CDC-2012):

  • Persons of any age with the following conditions:
    • Chronic lung (including asthma), heart, kidney, liver, blood disorders (including sickle cell disease), neurologic, neuromuscular, or metabolic disorders (including diabetes mellitus)
    • Impaired immune system, including that caused by medications like prednisone, or by HIV
    • Pregnant women
  • Persons younger than 19 years of age who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy
  • Children younger than 5 years old, and particularly younger than 2 years old
  • Adults 65 years of age and older
  • Residents of nursing homes and other chronic-care facilities
  • American Indians/Alaska Natives
  • Persons who are morbidly obese (BMI ≥ 40)

Students who become sick with the flu and belong to a high risk group should call Student Health Services at 406-994-2311 to schedule an appointment for further evaluation.

Treating the Flu

Important: Seek medical care if you belong to a high risk group, develop worrisome symptoms, or your symptoms worsen. 

  • Get plenty of rest.
  • Drink at least 2 liters each day of liquids such as non-diet 7-UP, Sprite, Gatorade, ginger ale, broth, tea with sugar (yes, soda pop is OK with a cold or flu).
  • For runny nose and stuffy nose, try a decongestant like 12-Hour Sudafed (available without a prescription).
  • For cough, try a cough syrup like Delsym (available without a prescription).
  • To reduce fever and for symptom management, take ibuprofen (e.g. Motrin, Advil), naproxen (e.g. Aleve) or acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol) as directed on the bottle. Avoid aspirin.
  • For vomiting, don't eat or drink anything until you have not vomited for 4 hours, then sip on liquids (see above avoid plain water as it can make vomiting worse) for 24 hours. If no further vomiting, begin eating mild foods like crackers, mashed potatoes, rice, applesauce for 24 hours. Then resume your regular diet.
  • Taking Tamiflu (oseltamivir) 75mg caps 
    • This will lessen severity of influenza symptoms and possibly decrease illness duration by 24 hours.
    • Typically prescribed only for those in a high-risk group
    • Available at MSU SHP Pharmacy (bring insurance card)

Avoid Spreading the Flu to Others

  • Stay at home or in your dorm room, avoiding work, school, and social gatherings until the fever has been below 100°F (38°C) for 24 hours (without needing fever-reducing medicine to keep the temperature down).
  • Have meals delivered to you. Don't go to the dining hall for meals!
  • Cover your cough. Cough or sneeze into a tissue or, if necessary, into your upper arm. Dispose of the tissue immediately.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. If you are not near water, use an alcohol-based (60-95%) hand cleaner (such as Purell).
  • If you have to go out, wear a surgical mask or try to stay at least six feet from other people

Avoid Catching the Flu  

  • Get immunized as soon as possible! SHS-Medical Services offers the flu shot by appointment or at several walk-in clinics.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. If you are not near water, use an alcohol-based (60-95%) hand cleaner such as Purell.
  • Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
  • Do not share cups, lipstick, or eating utensils with a sick person. Beer, wine, cocktails and other alcoholic beverages DO NOT kill the flu virus.
  • Try not to touch your eyes, nose, or mouth.
  • Use Lysol to disinfect any surfaces an ill roommate touches help.
  • Taking Tamiflu as prophylaxis may help prevent influenza if you are around others that are sick. 
    • If you are a MSU student and think you should take Tamiflu, contact SHP Medical Services (406-994-2311; see clinic hours here).  If you are not a MSU student, contact your personal physician or an Urgent Care clinic.

 

Flu Shots

The 2023-24 seasonal quadrivalent influenza vaccine is available as an injection at SHP Medical Services.

By appointment

Please call 406-994-2311 to schedule a flu vaccine appointment or request a flu shot when you are in our clinic for other medical reasons. Should we run out, you may also obtain immunizations at many local pharmacies (find one through vaccines.gov), and from the Gallatin City-County Health Department.

Cost

Most insurances (including the MSU BCBS plan) fully cover the cost of influenza immunization, but if you must pay for it out of pocket the cost is $30.

last updated 01-10-24