Patient Choum Sengdara receives a flu vaccination from a doctor at the Wardenburg Health Center on the CU Boulder campus in January 2013. (Gary Sheer/CU Independent File)
As winter nears and respiratory virus rates increase, the Wardenburg Health Center is providing free COVID-19 and flu vaccinations for University of Colorado Boulder students and staff members.
Matthew Mittiga, the medical director of the Health and Wellness Medical Services, emphasized the importance of keeping up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccinations, particularly due to the virus’s numerous mutations.
“For the past two years, updates to the COVID-19 vaccine attempted to address the issue of ongoing viral mutation and subsequent evasion of our immune systems by matching the vaccine to the currently circulating strain of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, thereby allowing our immune system to recognize and protect against currently circulating strains,” Mittiga said.
As of Oct. 27, only 22.4% of Colorado residents are fully up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccinations, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Mittiga said that maintaining high vaccination rates can protect society as a whole.
“In addition to the protection imparted to each individual who receives the vaccine, the more individuals in a community who are vaccinated can help to protect vulnerable community members who are either unable to receive the vaccine or are more likely to experience more severe illness or death if infected regardless of their vaccination status,” he said.
While younger adults, such as college students, are less likely to face COVID-19 complications, Mittiga said that it is still important to note that mild cases of COVID-19 can lead to larger issues.
“Even asymptomatic infections with COVID-19 can lead to long-term health problems, also known as long COVID or post-COVID conditions,” he said.
It is safe to get COVID-19 and flu vaccinations at the same time. Students can schedule a COVID-19 vaccination appointment online with the MyCUHealth portal. Staff and faculty should schedule by calling 303-492-5432. To schedule a flu vaccination, students and staff members should call 303-492-5101. Flu vaccines are not available through online scheduling.
Any CU Boulder community members with further questions about COVID-19 or flu vaccines should visit https://www.colorado.edu/healthcenter/, contact Buff Info by phone at 303-492-4636 or through email at buffinfo@colorado.edu.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Charlie Meyer at charlie.meyer@colorado.edu.
