By Elizabeth Held
“They should give us food when we’re in line,” joked Elizabeth Bingham ’10 while waiting in line for her H1N1 vaccine.
Bingham was one of approximately 260 Bryn Mawr students to receive the vaccine at last Monday’s three-hour clinic.
Most students spent about an hour in the “swine line,” which began outside Bryn Mawr’s Health Center and looped out and around outside. Three nurses administered the vaccine and volunteers from the athletic department were on hand to assist with crowd control.
According to Dr. Kay Kerr, the Health Center’s Medical Director, it was necessary to close the health center for non-emergencies for about an hour in order “to handle the volume of students", but it didn’t create any serious problems.
Overall, Health Center employees were pleased with the clinic’s results.
Jackie Ramsey, Director of Nursing, described the clinic (and its long lines) as the “only way to do mass immunizations.”
Mid-way through the clinic Ramsey said things were going great.
"It may not be perfect but it’s the best way to get it done.”
Kerr too was happy with how the clinic went.
"The weather cooperated," said Kerr in an email interview. "The students were very good-natured and made things flow smoothly by bringing the completed paperwork with them."
Alyssa Gagne ’11 got the H1N1 shot because as an asthmatic, she is at high risk for the flu.
“My mom told me I should [get the flu shot] because she doesn’t want me to die,” said Gagne.
Clare Mullaney ’11 said she feels getting the vaccine is worth the risk of much-publicized side effects.
“Most people don’t have adverse reactions," said Mullaney. "I’d rather have the shot than the flu."
Other students like Sarah Jane Allen ‘12 were afraid to get it because of various fears about the future.
“I’m paranoid that vaccines will help cause autism,” she said.
This article is © 2008 The Bi-College News. The material on this page is free for personal or educational use, but may not be reproduced, reprinted, republished, redistributed, or otherwise transmitted to a third party without the express written permission of The Bi-College News, 370 Lancaster Ave, Haverford, PA 19041.
Editor's note: Articles that appear in the Last Word section are works of satire.
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