Salient. Official Newspaper of the Victoria University of Wellington Students' Association. Vol 40. No. 7. April 13 1977

Health Service — Do you Need flu Vaccine?

Health Service

Do you Need flu Vaccine?

Cartoon featuring ten human heads

Generally speaking for healthy types, the answer is No. On the other hand, if you suffer from bronchitis, asthma or some other chest or heart condition your doctor may advise you be vaccinated. (It is also recommended for the elderly).

The Student Health Service will be arranging an influenza vaccination clinic for late April. If you think you qualify for a vaccination — come and see us now. Don't wait until late April or you may miss out.

"I've had the flu", is a common expression and can mean just about everything. True influenza or flu is caused by the Influenza virus. Different strains keep occuring and consequently new vaccines have to be produced to combat the new strains. There is no guarantee that the current vaccines will give you protection against this winter's strain but this should appeal to your gambling instinct.

How do you recognise influenza? Symptoms usually have a rapid onset and you feel goddam awful. You have a fever but no thermometer to check on that. The signs of fever are alternating shivering and sweating. You may have a running nose and a dry cough. You'll have a splitting headache with aching in the limbs and back for good measure. You'll feel distinctly anti-social.

What to do?

1) Don't be a hero and keep going. That way you will cause a minor epidemic among your friends and collegues. Hang a ' Keep Out' notice on the door.
2) Have the room warm but well aired, go to bed and stay there for 3 days. Stay indoors until your temperature is normal.
3) Drink plenty of fluids. 4-6 pints a day. Cool drinks of water, fruitjuice, lemonade or cordial are the best. Keep a jug by the bedside.
4) Have a box of tissues by the bed and a paper bag for the used ones.
5) Take soluble asprin or paracetamol, two tablets four hourly with a glass of water for the headache and pain.
6) Take cough mixture if the cough is troublesome.

These simple remedies won't work miracles but they do help. Antibiotics are useless in combating the Influenza virus, or any other virus for that matter.

The agony will last for about three days but after that you'll still feel weak for some time. Depressed feelings sometimes follow the flu. Sec the doctor if you're ill for longer than 4-5 days. You may have developed complications or something.

How do you distinguish between the common cold and influenza? Colds are more common. They generally include a sore throat, a running nose, stuffiness, sneezing, coughing and sometimes a hoarse voice. With influenza the throat is usually less sore and the chest more so. There is a fever and you feel much worse with more [ unclear: s] severe headaches and generalised aching.

Unfortunately no reliable cold vaccine is yet available. However, we can help you at Student Health with the more simple cold remedies, so come down and see Vivienne and Stephanie and we should be able to help you.