<p>Sac, I'm not Garland's husband :-), but we swear by: Echinacea and Vitamin C capsules/tablets (both taken daily per directions), Odwalla Strawberry C Monster, Wellness Tea (Echinacea/Vitamin C), and sometimes zinc. We rarely get sick and when we do, it is I think milder because of the herbal things. That said, the close living conditions of dorms are going to make for major viral exposure and I'm not sure that those holistic remedies will be enough. </p>
<p>I know it's just superstition, but the only year I had a flu shot was the year I got the flu (presumably a different strain). I am worried about my dad because he feels the same way I do but because so many people will be sick this year, he should have one. But we are all so stubborn in my family.</p>
<p>Momofthree-I can't offer any help on the availability of flu shots in the area.The main number for the city is 215-686-1776. You'll get a live receptionist who will connect you to any department you request. Maybe you can call them and ask for the Health Dept.</p>
<p>I won't speak to the effectiveness of folk remedies like cidar vinegar, echinacea, vitamin C, etc., in preventing or treating the flu. HOWEVER, certain things are well known to prevent contact-transmission viruses--which the flu is (one of many).</p>
<p>Wash your hands before you eat and before you go to the bathroom (mucus tissue!) as well as after. Don't touch your eyes and nose unless you know your hands are clean. Wash your hands if you've been shaking hands with people. (You know those studies about how most people don't wash their hands after they go to the bathroom? I'll bet the same people pick their noses and don't wash their hands then, either.)</p>
<p>Maintain a healthy immune system by eating properly--lots of fruit and vegetables, enough protein, etc.--and getting enough sleep. Exercise in moderation is known to boost the immune system; extreme exercise is known to depress the immune system.</p>
<p>Well I just had a very short round of flu already and it didnt ( hasnt' as of yet anyway) gone into my lungs and hung on for three weeks!
I was pretty wiped out, but staying in bed without anything to bring down my fever, emergence-C and water and Borion homeopathic flu remedy and I feel 100% better in less than a week.
In contrast to my mom who always gets a flu shot and seems to be sick all the time anyway, so I think I will wait to see what my doc says.
( And I agree with DMD wash your hands people! no excuse not to especially with all the packaged towelettes and no water soaps)</p>
<p>I just saw your question about the supply of flu vaccine in the Philadelphia area. The suburbs have it.....at least my GP does and a local pediatric group. Penn had or has some as well for their high risk people...here is the link.</p>
<p>Elleneast,
Emboldened by your example, I e-mailed the head of the Columbia U health services and received a long, personal response. Bottom line: their supplier is Chiron and so they will be getting NO flu vaccine. Student health services are apparently not on the list for emergency provisions, even if they serve some people who qualify as high risk. Because they expect to get no vaccine, they are not compiling a list of people who are high risk.</p>
<p>I view my daughter's dorm as one big petri dish. She is very happy in the city but all of those kids in close contact makes me nervous during flu season. Subways, elevators, shared bathrooms, Oiy!</p>
<p>Since you have the e-mail of the head of Columbia Health Services, perhaps I could ask you to ask them if they are planning on having some Tamiflu on hand. Maybe an e-mail could be sent to students as the flu season begins letting them know that there is a treatment that will lessen the severity of flu if they have access to it within two days after the first symptoms. </p>
<p>(My daughter would roll her eyes if she knew that I was discussing my concerns about her health and the health of her fellow Columbians with people on CC. :rolleyes: )</p>
<p>Momsdream, thanks for the number your provided. And Elleneast, how good of you to provide the website. I have copied it into an email to my daughter. She has been having a little trouble getting a response from her local gastro doc ( he travels constantly, it seems) but I have asked that she get word from him immediately if not sooner to make sure she can take the shot with the meds she is taking. Surely this will help. You are great to check back on this site and bring the link to my attention!</p>
<p>Elleneast,
If you search the Columbia site for the flu vaccine alert put out earlier this month, you will find an invitation to contact them with questions, and an e-mail and phone number for the doctor in charge. His name is Samuel Seward.</p>
<p>The MIT website lists people who suffer from moderate-persistent asthma as being high risk. The CDC has a link to the American Lung Association website which has a flu shot clinic locator. Might be helpful?</p>
<p>clinics are pretty much sold out around here, & while I have had asthma for a few years I have never had a shot before, guess I won't have one this year either.
too bad my daughter is working with little children who sneeze into their hands!
For how much tuition is there, they should have people hold their kleenex for them.</p>
<p>I have already gotten an e-mail from Dr. Seward who wrote that because of the flu vaccine shortage there is also a shortage of Tamiflu. The manufacturer will not be able to offer any to Columbia and the local pharmacies have none.</p>
<p>They will have a drug called Amantadine, which Dr. Seward called "an older but still effective flu drug". He also wrote that there has not been a serious flu outbreak in ten years at the school. </p>
<p>I was pleased to get such a quick response. Let's hope that it is a mild flu season nationwide.</p>
<p>"One big petri dish," I love it! My d's is the same...with the addition of the occasional squirrel and mouse that makes its way in. The joys of a parklike campus...</p>
<p>Elleneast -- Thanks for the word, unhappy as it is. Amazing isn't it. I mean this is NYC we're talking about, and the place most often mentioned as ground zero for bioterrorism. (Maybe they can just send over a few terrorists who have the flu and disperse them into the subway to sneeze.) Do you think all the flu vaccine AND all the thermaflu went to some small town in North Dakota or Iowa, just like a lot of the money to fight terrorism?</p>
<p>Flu shots are available at Northwestern's Health Services for high risk students. There was an article today in the Daily Northwestern concerning this. Since only about
50 high risk students received flu shots, faculty, staff, and family members who are high risk & have WILDcards may now receive flu shots. I know because my child is in the high risk category but needed additional documentation since his
medical forms upon entry were incomplete. But one the MD faxed copies of his treatment records from the past year, he was able to be approved for the shot. There is a $25 charge for the shot.</p>
<p>For what it's worth: I spoke with my allergist about the Flu Mist. (I consider him to be the best of the physicians who treat are family.) He told me emphatically to avoid Flu Mist. The clinic offered Flu Mist in addition to flu shots last year and he feels that it is too easy to catch the flu from Flu Mist, although youwould get a milder case.</p>