Cold and flu season is here, and the Vincennes University Primary Care Clinic is here to
help students stop the sniffles.

Cold and Flu season typically begins in October, and often students are afflicted in large numbers. According to Jamie Kocher, the nurse manager of the Primary Care Clinic, there is an uptick in students who visit the clinic during the fall and winter seasons.
Kocher said, “We bring new people to campus that have come from different places, and whatever viruses were in where they came from come, too.
“Each time you guys go home, you come back with whatever was at home,” she said of students.
There have been no confirmed cases of influenza this year so far, but Kocher advises students to still practice taking steps to avoid illness.
Kocher suggests students to have a regular sleep schedule, eat healthy, exercise regularly, and to drink fluids often.
Kocher also said students should try to avoid those who appear sickly.

“If you see somebody that looks like they’re sick – runny nose, red eyes, a cough – keep your distance from them,” she said.S

She also advises that if a student has a roommate who is sick, they should wipe down the common areas they use with disinfectant wipes regularly to avoid spreading the illness.
The Primary Care Center typically does not provide vaccines; however, they do provide routine testing for influenza and COVID-19 for all students. If one were to test positive for these illnesses, the Primary Care Center can provide over-the-counter medication. If a student is sick
enough to require a prescription, there are staff available who can order medication for students, she said.
If a student is a full-time student living on campus, the cost of this is covered by room and board fees. If a student is an off-campus commuter, they must enroll in the student health program which is a $44 fee per semester.
Appointments with the Primary Care Center can be set up over the phone, as walk-ins will not be accommodated, Kocher said.