Respiratory Illnesses
Respiratory viruses like the common cold, flu and COVID-19 begin circulating at high levels during the fall and winter months. These viruses affect the respiratory system and can cause mild to severe symptoms. Every virus season is different, and respiratory infections can affect people differently – even healthy people can get very sick.
No one has time to be sick – not with classes, exams, sports events, socials, graduations and holiday breaks full of traveling and gathering to celebrate all that is great about the fall and winter seasons.
So, how can you stay healthy and be there for the moments that matter most?
Just follow these tips to help prevent illnesses, and if you do get sick, see what to do:
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Staying Healthy and Preventing the Spread of Germs | Vaccines at Redfern
There are actions you can take to prevent catching or spreading illness to others – and reduce the likelihood of getting very sick if you do become ill.
Get Vaccinated
The CDC recommends a yearly seasonal flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against seasonal flu. When more people get vaccinated, less illness can spread through the community. While there are many different flu viruses, the seasonal flu vaccine protects against the main seasonal flu strains that research indicates will cause the most illness during the flu season. The seasonal flu vaccine can protect you from getting sick from these viruses, or it can make your illness milder if you get a related flu virus.
An updated 2023-24 COVID-19 vaccine is also recommended for everyone over the age of 6 months to prevent severe illness. Much like the flu vaccine, you may still contract the virus, but being vaccinated reduces the rates of severe illness, hospitalization or death. It also lowers the risk of developing Long COVID.
It takes a couple of weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body and provide protection against viruses. Therefore, it’s important to get vaccinated in September and October before viruses begin circulating at high levels and before you travel for the holidays.
Vaccines at Redfern
Seasonal flu and COVID-19 vaccines are offered at Redfern Health Center. Appointments can be made online in MyHealth-e or by calling the pharmacy: 864-656-3562. Most flu and COVID-19 vaccines given in Redfern’s pharmacy will be covered by insurance at no cost to students. If not covered, the flu vaccine costs $49. This can be paid at the time of service or added to your Student Account. Acceptable forms of payment include check, debit, credit, Apple Pay, HSA and Tiger stripe. You can also pay for vaccines online in MyHealth-e.
If you have the Clemson University Student Health Insurance Plan, the flu vaccine is covered 100% when received at Redfern or through any Preferred Provider.
Other Preventative Actions
There are other everyday preventative actions you can take to help prevent illness:
- Avoid touching your face (eyes, nose, mouth).
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or paper towel when coughing or sneezing.
- Wash your hands frequently or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and objects.
- Improve ventilation and filtration in indoor spaces to prevent virus particles from accumulating in the air; spend time outside when possible.
- Get plenty of sleep.
- Exercise regularly.
- Manage stress levels.
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Signs and Symtoms
Respiratory illnesses like the common cold, flu and COVID-19 have similar symptoms, so it can be very hard to tell the difference between them.
Cold vs Flu
In general, the flu is worse than the common cold, and symptoms are more intense and begin more abruptly. These symptoms can include fever or feeling feverish/chills, muscle or body aches, fatigue, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, and headaches. Flu can have very serious associated complications. Every flu season is different, and people can be affected by flu differently.
Cold symptoms, such as such as sore throat, sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, and cough, are usually milder and appear gradually. People with colds are more like to have a runny or stuffy nose than people who have flu; colds generally do not result in serious health problems.
More from the CDC:
Flu vs COVID-19
COVID-19 spreads more easily than flu and can cause more severe illness in some individuals. People with COVID-19 may take longer to show symptoms and may be contagious for a longer period of time than people with flu. Because the symptoms of flu and COVID-19 are so similar, diagnostic tests are the only way to confirm these illnesses.
More from the CDC:
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If You Do Get Sick
Most people with a cold, flu or COVID-19 have mild illness and do not need medical care or antiviral drugs. Home COVID-19 tests (antigen tests) are available in pharmacies and should be utilized if you become sick, particularly if you are high-risk for severe illness. Free COVID-19 testing is available at Redfern Health Center; if you feel you cannot walk up to the test site at Redfern, call 864-656-3566 for assistance.
Because flu and COVID-19 are very contagious, you should stay home if you experience symptoms of these viruses or test positive. Staying home and away from others as much as possible is important to stopping the spread of illness. Also, cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue, wash your hands often, stay hydrated and get lots of rest.
Only return to normal activities when your overall symptoms are improving AND you are fever-free without fever-reducing medication for 24 hours. Consider additional protection, such as a mask, for five days after you return to normal activities to help prevent the spread of your illness.
If you have symptoms of flu or COVID-19 and are in a higher-risk group, or are very sick or worried about your illness, contact Student Health Services or another health care provider to get medical care. Be sure to wear a facemask when you go, if tolerable.
Please note that Student Health Services does NOT provide excuses for class absence. If you’re sick and need to miss class, you should complete the Notification of Absence form available in Canvas. In addition to completing this form, you should communicate directly with your instructors regarding any missed assignments, preferably before a class or exam takes place.
Guidance and More Resources from the University
More from the CDC on treatments:
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Emergency Warning Signs
In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include the following:
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
- Sudden dizziness
- Confusion
- Severe or persistent vomiting
- Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough
If you are concerned about your illness or develop severe symptoms, such as increased fever, shortness of breath, chest pain or pressure, or rapid breathing, seek care immediately at Redfern or from another health-care provider.
- Myths and Facts
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Flu Surge at Clemson
During a surge in the number of flu cases, Student Health Services will do everything possible to meet the health-care needs of the students. However, due to high demand for services, it may be difficult to secure a timely appointment with a health-care provider and wait times may increase. If your symptoms are not severe and there are no other risk factors, you should isolate yourself from others, rest, drink plenty of fluids and monitor your condition until 24 hours after the fever is gone.
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