Coughing, sneezing, body aches, vomiting, chills and fatigue are some of the most common symptoms of the contagious virus sweeping across the nation this winter. Two entire weeks of school completed after winter break puts Hickman in prime respiratory illness season. Currently affecting students and staff is the influenza (flu) virus.
“It spreads by droplets in the air and germs on surfaces,” Austin Krohn, the Public Health Information Specialist of Boone County Public Health and Human Services said,“It usually gets worse this time of year. People are [closer] together.”
While this time of year always marks an increase in respiratory illnesses, this year has seen a unique spike in flu cases. One reason is because of an influenza A variant that has mutated to resist the flu vaccine.
“The flu vaccines right now are still effective, just not as effective. So we’re seeing an increase in transmissions across the board,” Austin Krohn, the Public Health Information Specialist of Columbia/Boone County Public Health and Human Services said.
The general spike of cases is happening all across the country and is believed to be caused by the new variant of the disease. Columbia is no different, but it is also dealing with its own set of challenges that are worsening the problem.
“We lost four grants that amounted to over $800,000 and one of the grants was directly tied to our ability to do [free flu vaccines] later in the year,” Krohn said.
The Boone County Public Health and Human Services has historically administered free flu vaccines to daycares, private and public schools across the area at no cost to students’ families, but this has become impossible following funding cuts. Hickman High School nurse Tamara Trim explained the problem that follows a lack of vaccinations in a flu-ridden area.
“If flu rates rise and people are not vaccinated, then they’re going to be more subjected to it,” Trim said.
However, budget cuts do not mean that flu vaccines have to remain inaccessible. Trim encourages students to connect with Columbia Public Schools (CPS) scholar clinic, a CPS-student exclusive clinic that provides medical care and management.
“It’s run by Clarity Healthcare and its partnership with them in our district… They work with your insurance company. They can help people get insurance that don’t have insurance,” she said. “They are just a wonderful, wonderful resource and we frequently refer people to them.”
The Boone County Public Health and Human Services also provides flu shots and can accommodate specific needs. The organization can adjust to meet certain financial needs and their comfort clinics provide people with an aversion to a traditional doctor’s office experience a place to comfortably receive medical care.
“Our community health nurses are pretty good about working with people. Oftentimes they can get the flu vaccine waived entirely,” Krohn said.
Krohn also acknowledges that while people are entitled to their own opinions, the flu vaccine is trustworthy.
“[The flu vaccine] has been a proven and relatively effective method for the last 50 or so years,” Krohn said. “We can talk about other vaccines all day but the flu vaccine itself is effective, and it helps reduce transmission rates and reduces the symptoms that people may experience.”
There are other ways to prevent getting and/or spreading the flu. Good hygiene, isolation and vaccines while sick are among some of the most controllable and important ways to keep yourself and those around you safe.
“Showering, cleaning regularly used surfaces pretty frequently, washing your hands, coughing into your elbow or a tissue and a real important one is to stay home if you feel sick,” Krohn said.
Trim also highlights an important part of both prevention and recovery that sometimes goes overlooked — self-care.
“You need water, good nutrition and rest, taking care of yourself. That is what will keep you healthy,” she said.
As respiratory illness season takes over a country dealing with a new flu variant and a town suffering in the wake of budget cuts, good hygiene, isolation and vaccines are what citizens can do to ensure a safe and healthy community.
“I know a lot of people try to power through it, but even if you have a sniffle or a slight cough, we still encourage you to maybe stay home. You may be experiencing light symptoms, but that may spread to someone that has a way worse time than you,” Krohn said.
