Cherry blossoms on campus

Health resources

In addition to its commitment to helping students cope with a wide range of health issues, the Saint Martin’s University Student Health Center is dedicated to keeping students informed about health-related matters. The Student Health Center provides several resources with helpful information about common health concerns, vaccinations and questions.

Information

COVID-19 current protocols

Please visit the following CDC link for current information about COVID-19 including testing and isolation protocols. If you have further questions or concerns reach out to the Student Health Center.

Key facts about influenza (flu) and flu vaccine

Key facts

The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses that infect the nose, throat and lungs. It can cause mild to severe illness and, at times, can lead to death. The best way to prevent the flu is by getting a flu vaccine each year.

 

Signs and symptoms of flu

People who have the flu often feel some or all of these signs and symptoms:

  • Fever* or feeling feverish/chills
  • Cough
  • Sore throat
  • Runny or stuffy nose
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Headaches
  • Fatigue (very tired)
  • Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults.

*It’s important to note that not everyone with flu will have a fever.

How flu spreads

Most experts believe that flu viruses spread mainly by droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby. Less often, a person might also get flu by touching a surface or object that has flu virus on it and then touching their own mouth, eyes or possibly their nose.

Periods of contagiousness

Flu seasons are unpredictable and can be severe. Over a period of 30 years, between 1976 and 2006, estimates of flu-associated deaths in the United States range from a low of about 3,000 to a high of about 49,000 people.

Complications of flu

Complications of flu can include bacterial pneumonia, ear infections, sinus infections, dehydration, and worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes.

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Preventing seasonal flu: get vaccinated

The single best way to prevent the flu is to get a flu vaccine each season. Traditional flu vaccines that were made to protect against three different flu viruses (called “trivalent” vaccines) are available. In addition, this season, flu vaccines are made to protect against four different flu viruses (called “quadrivalent” vaccines), which are also available. The trivalent flu vaccine protects against two influenza A viruses and an influenza B virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not recommend one flu vaccine over the other. The important thing is to get a flu vaccine every year.

Yearly flu vaccination should begin soon after flu vaccine is available, and ideally by October. However, getting vaccinated even later can be protective, as long as flu viruses are circulating. While seasonal influenza outbreaks can happen as early as October, most of the time influenza activity peaks in January or later. Since it takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body that protect against influenza virus infection, it is best that people get vaccinated so they are protected before influenza begins spreading in their community.

Everyone six months and older should get a flu vaccine each year. This recommendation has been in place since February 24, 2010 when CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted for "universal" flu vaccination in the U.S. to expand protection against the flu to more people. While everyone should get a flu vaccine each flu season, it’s especially important that certain people get vaccinated either because they are at high risk of having serious flu-related complications or because they live with or care for people at high risk for developing flu-related complications.

  • Children younger than five, but especially children younger than two years old
  • Adults 65 years of age and older
  • Pregnant women
  • American Indians and Alaskan Natives seem to be at higher risk of flu complications

Additionally, people who have medical conditions including:

  • Asthma (even if it’s controlled or mild)
  • Neurological and neurodevelopmental conditions [including disorders of the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerve, and muscle such as cerebral palsy, epilepsy (seizure disorders), stroke, intellectual disability (mental retardation), moderate to severe developmental delay, muscular dystrophy, or spinal cord injury]
  • Chronic lung disease (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD] and cystic fibrosis)
  • Heart disease (such as congenital heart disease, congestive heart failure and coronary artery disease)
  • Blood disorders (such as sickle cell disease)
  • Endocrine disorders (such as diabetes mellitus)
  • Kidney disorders
  • Liver disorders
  • Metabolic disorders (such as inherited metabolic disorders and mitochondrial disorders)
  • Weakened immune system due to disease or medication (such as people with HIV or AIDS, or cancer, or those on chronic steroids)
  • People younger than 19 years of age who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy
  • People who are morbidly obese (Body Mass Index [BMI] of 40 or greater)

Who else should get vaccinated?

Some people should not be vaccinated without first consulting a physician. They include:

  • People who have a severe allergy to chicken eggs.
  • People who have had a severe reaction to an influenza vaccination in the past.
  • Children younger than six months of age (influenza vaccine is not approved for use in this age group).
  • People who have a moderate or severe illness with a fever should wait to get vaccinated until their symptoms lessen.
  • People with a history of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (a severe paralytic illness, also called GBS) that occurred after receiving influenza vaccine and who are not at risk for severe illness from influenza should generally not receive vaccine. Tell your doctor if you ever had Guillain-Barré Syndrome. Your doctor will help you decide whether the vaccine is recommended for you.

Community medical resources

Medical/dental clinics

For medical resources not provided by Saint Martin's University Student Health Center, please view the following list of resources.

  • Note, the following information is not provided as recommendations or endorsements.
Name Address Phone
24-hour Crisis Line N/A 360-586-2800
Concentra Urgent Care 3928 Pacific Ave. SE
Lacey, WA
Google Map
360-455-1350
Indigo MultiCare Urgent Care 5128 Yelm Hwy SE
Suite E
Lacey, WA
Google Map
360-763-7040
Kaiser Permanente  700 Lilly Rd NE 
Lacey, WA
Google Map
360-923-7000
Providence St. Peter Hospital
(Emergency Room)
413 Lilly Road NE
Lacey, WA
Google Map
360-493-7289
Sea Mar Medical, Dental and Behavioral Health Clinic 669 Woodland Square Loop SE
Lacey, WA
Google Map
360-359-4860
Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Services N/A 360-754-6300
Westcare Clinic 3000 Limited Lane, NW
Olympia, WA
Google Map
360-357-9392

 

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Pharmacies

For medical resources not provided by Saint Martin's University Student Health Center, please view the following list of resources.

  • Note, the following information is not provided as recommendations or endorsements.
Name Address Phone
Fred Meyer Pharmacy 700 Sleater-Kinney Rd. SE 
Lacey, WA
Google Map
360-438-6483
Rite Aid Pharmacy 691 Sleater-Kinney Rd. SE
Olympia, WA
Google Map
360-491-4111
Target (CVS) 665 Sleater-Kinney Rd. SW
Lacey, WA
Google Map
360-486-8927
Walgreen Drug Store 4540 Lacey Blvd. SE
Lacey, WA
Google Map
360-438-2353

 

Contact

Student Health Center

The Student Health Center complements the academic mission of Saint Martin's University and integrates faith, reason, service and community to empower students, staff and faculty through creating an environment in the health center that promotes learning.