The Academy had a flu clinic for students in grades kindergarten to eighth grade on Nov. 5.

Dean of the Lower School, Melanie Ah Soon, said, “We have been holding this clinic for several years.”

Students took either the flu shot or nasal spray for protection against the flu, which can cause hospitalization or sometimes death.

Science teacher, James Bell, said, “I got the nasal spray instead of the shot because I don’t like to get poked with needles.”

The flu can affect even the healthiest person. The flu shot or nasal spray can help reduce the risk of catching the flu or a milder version of it with the inoculation.

Flu shots create antibodies that develop in the body after about two weeks and which protect against infection because of the viruses in the vaccine.

For those who are six months and older, there is the standard trivalent vaccine. There is also an egg-free vaccine that is approved for those who are 18 to 49 years old. For individuals 65 years and older, there is a high dose trivalent shot.

The quadrivalent flu vaccine has a standard version and a nasal spray that is for ages two to 49.

Those who have had severe reactions to previous vaccines should not be vaccinated. Those who have a moderate to severe illness should not get the flu shot or nasal spray. Those who have Guillaume-Barre Syndrome (GBS) should check with their doctors before getting the flu shot or nasal spray. The shot and nasal spray are not for children younger than six months.

The number of adults and students getting the vaccination will help prevent the spread of the virus if it appears on campus.

Ah Soon said, “This year we gave 208 shots and 117 nasal sprays.”