TSU Leadership Line Up for Flu Shots

Members of Texas Southern University Executive Team led by Dr. John Rudley, president, rolled up their sleeves on Thursday for a cause. That cause was to encourage students, faculty, staff and the TSU community to “get their flu shots.”  

The TSU team is continuing its “Healthy Campus” flu shot campaign. One by one members of the team will receive their flu vaccinations which will be administered on campus by Persona Labs. With health care professionals predicting a very active and lengthy flu season, the top administrators want to make sure to get the shots to protect themselves and send a clear message to faculty, staff and students that it is important they do the same. The President believes the shots are particularly important this season.  “It is critically important for employees and students of Texas Southern to get the vaccine for the regular flu so that at a time when we also have to deal with H1N1, nobody is contributing to challenging the wellness of our community,” Dr. Rudley said. He urges everyone to be responsible and do what’s right to prevent our students and employees from catching the seasonal flu.

The seasonal flu vaccine will not protect against the H1N1 virus, also known as swine flu. Once the H1N1 vaccine is developed and made available, possibly as early as next week employees will be notified.

Student Services Interim Vice President Dr. William Saunders adds that TSU is on the list to receive the H1N1 vaccines; however the number of vaccines will be limited. The university will have 100 regular flu shot vaccinations however according to Dr. Saunders, more can be ordered if needed. The university has launched a set of aggressive healthy campus initiatives, such as, distribution of more than 7,000 hand sanitizers to date, H1N1 webinar trainings, poster distribution, added hand washing solution centers throughout the campus, and the student services area has hosted regular information sessions. “It is better to prevent and take precautionary steps to ensure everyone’s health. The president has insisted on this campaign,” Dr. Saunders added.

Registered nurse and director of TSU’s Student Health Center, Ms. Feloniece Davis-Marsaw, states “We want to encourage students, faculty and staff to practice preventative measures that will help them stay healthy, such as frequent hand washing, and practicing proper respiratory etiquette. Our goal is to have a healthy campus.”

Another top administrator, Wendy Adair, Vice President of University Advancement, who takes the regular flu shot annually, stated, “I think it is more important this year than ever that we get immunized. I do try to get a flu shot every year and have found that it has protected me well over the last few years. I am pleased that we’re able to do this on campus and not have to go to the doctor’s office or drug store.”

Nurse Marsaw wants everyone to know that according to CDC guidelines, treating H1N1 as the regular flu helps to ease the panic surrounding H1N1. The regular flu is something with which everyone is familiar. She encourages everyone to stay at home if they are experiencing flu like symptoms and fever.