The Graduate Student Senate Covid Committee discussed plans Tuesday for a campaign to encourage students to get flu shots during the general body meeting.
COVID-19 and flu symptoms are often similar. In order to help differentiate the sicknesses, students are being encouraged to get flu shots.
The future social media campaign will utilize the local community and businesses to motivate others to get their flu shots.
This social media campaign will involve promotional facts regarding COVID-19 and the flu as well as facts including why students should get a flu vaccination, Suji Baskar, chair of the Covid Committee, said.
“It’s going to be very difficult for health care systems to navigate whether or not an individual does actually have the flu or COVID, even with testing,” Brett Fredericksen, department representative for environment and plant biology, said. “Flu shots are a great way to kind of knock that out in advance.”
The Covid Committee originally wanted to host a flu shot drive where students could go and get their flu shots. However, the committee currently does not have those resources. Instead, the committee will be highlighting the importance of getting a flu shot and where students can receive them both on and off campus, Fredericksen said.
Other GSS members can help the campaign by taking a photo while they are getting their flu shot or by taking a picture with their Band-Aid afterwards. Those photos can then be put on social media along with why the individual feels it is important to get a flu shot this year. This will help with the committee’s campaign marketing, Fredericksen said.
Students typically chose CVS and Kroger pharmacies to get their flu shots, Fredericksen said.
“You can just call and set up a (flu shot) appointment,” Baskar said. “When you call, I would ask what documentation you need to bring in beforehand to make sure that they fill out the paperwork for your insurance.”
GSS is going to attempt to work with Ohio University marketing to get a widespread campaign for flu shots. GSS will be carving out some graphic design templates and messaging for students. Hashtags may also be used to help engage students on social media, Fredericksen said.
Remington Burwell, an LGBT affairs commissioner studying plant biology, spoke about forming a committee specifically focused around diversity inclusion. He said this committee would be important because everyone on OU’s campus has their own intersectional identity to acknowledge.
The new committee’s duties would include throwing events sponsored by GSS as well as providing resources to students from centers on campus.
No new amendments were passed.
