Students Line Up for H1N1 Vaccine

Student Health Services administered over one thousand H1N1 vaccines to students and faculty yesterday during a clinic at the Fairfax campus.

Mason students and faculty were able to receive the vaccine free of charge with their Mason ID cards.

The clinic, which took place in the Student Union Building II, was scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m. but some students and faculty arrived as early at 7:00 a.m. to receive the vaccine shot.

Early comers waited for over an hour in a line that snaked through the three floors of the building. Afternoon recipients waited 15-20 minutes to receive the shot.

Meghan Knowles, a senior public relations major, arrived to the clinic early with her roommate and waited just over an hour for her vaccine. Nonetheless, she said it was worth it.

"I laughed at the threat of H1N1 at first," said Knowles. "It seemed ridiculous. But now, I'm in line to get it too. People didn't realize how bad H1N1 could get and no one wants to be that sick during finals."

Mason's Student Health Services, who distributed the vaccine, did not know if they would run out of the vaccine before the end of the clinic at 3:00 p.m.

“I think this is awesome,” said Katie Bansophy, a junior nursing student. “It goes pretty quick in line and everyone should be getting the vaccine.”
 
Despite varying waiting periods, many students and staff were happy to stand in line.

"I'm glad that so many people are getting it," said senior Diana Friedman, from the first floor of SUB II at the back of the line. "It is beneficial that Mason is providing it for free."

While the clinic was heavily advertised throughout Mason, not all students and faculty were able to attend the clinic.

"It would have been rather inconvenient for me to come out to Fairfax and get the shot," said Joel Bolton, a graduate student who attends the Arlington campus. "I'm usually at work in Dulles and I have class in Arlington at 4:30 p.m. I also didn't know about the shot until a friend told me today."

Student Health Services sent out an e-mail to all Mason students and faculty, and also advertised through the GMU-TV network.

Despite this and previous clinics, some Mason students and faculty don't feel they need to get the vaccines.

"It's wholly unnecessary," said Ben Conner, a senior history and education major. "H1N1, at least to me, is nothing to be concerned over."

For those who missed yesterday’s clinic, Fairfax County is having a mass H1N1 vaccine clinic on Saturday, November 21st from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Fairfax County Government Center.