Flu Prevention
What you can do
Watkins is taking the current flu outbreak very seriously. Per Tennessee Department of Public Health guidelines, we recommend that all students, faculty, and staff who have not yet been vaccinated seek out this year’s flu vaccine. Supplies may be limited, so it is suggested that you call ahead. We are also seeking additional access for our students to the flu vaccine. Please stay tuned for updates.
Please keep in mind that the best things you can do to prevent the spread of the flu are to
- cough or sneeze into your sleeve, not your elbow or shoulder, not your hand;
- throw used tissues away;
- wash hands with soap and warm water for 30 seconds (sing happy birthday to the soap bubbles to measure time);
- and use hand sanitizer frequently.
This advice is for those with the flu — and without!
What Watkins is doing
We have updated our cleaning regimen for the building to include regular sanitizing of high-touch surfaces, including all hand rails, door knobs, and computer keyboards.
And, of course, there is no shortage of hand sanitizer in the building.
how do you know if you have the flu?
The flu can often resemble a particularly nasty cold — but the duration and treatment of a flu and the common cold are very different.
In general, the flu is worse than the common cold. Symptoms such as fever, body aches, tiredness, and cough are more common and intense with the flu. People with colds are more likely to have a runny or stuffy nose.
Check out Vanderbilt Medicine’s Flu Tool to answer a series of quick questions that will help you determine if you (or a loved one) has the flu.