Flu season has invaded the city again with a vengeance and Ryerson is no exception.
But did you know you can get a flu shot on campus?
"I don't think (flu shots) have been promoted well here, especially for those people in the high-risk categories," said Dr. David Lowe, the medical co-ordinator of Ryerson's Health Centre.
Lowe credits word-of-mouth for bringing people to the clinic for flu shots.
The office has been flooded with students and staff in the middle of an especially nasty flu season. More than 170 students and about 150 staff members had received flu shots as of Monday.
Since this year's flu outbreak is bigger than last year's, demand for the shots has grown, said an official at the centre. Streams of students walk in all day and about 35 more people have had shots this year than last year.
The centre has already run out of serum once and the office is extending its hours to give shots until the end of February. Usually doctors stop giving shots in January.
The needles are recommended for children, the elderly and disabled because they fall into the high-risk category. But a typically healthy group - university students - are also asking for the vaccine.
"I decided to get one this year because there is an epidemic sweeping through the office," said Julia Lewis, administrative manager of occupational health and safety. "Normally I wouldn't be getting a flu shot because I usually don't get sick in the winter. But last year I experienced some flu symptoms for the first time in 10 years."
Lowe said no one who has received the vaccine has reported coming down with the bug.
Ryerson staff and students not on government allowance must pay $15. Students get a $5 discount.
The vaccine is exempt from Ryerson's health plan and there aren't any plans to include it.
It's not known yet whether this season will become one of the worst on record for flus, but Health Canada reports the bug is spreading. Abotu 2,600 cases have been reported across Canada so far, mainly in Ontario, Quebec and Alberta. The flu hits about 50,000 Canadians annually, with 4,500-6,000 deaths reported every year.
The vaccine is administered by needle in the arm or shoulder. Patients are sometimes asked to wait a few minutes once the shot is given, especially those at greatest risk.
"My mom and my sister advised me to get one this year," said Sonja Chun, a fourth-year radio and television arts student. "I often get sick during the winter months and they felt it was time I did something about it."
