It’s that time of year again: classrooms fill with coughs. Professors receive apologetic emails about rising temperatures, flu symptoms and fever. The weather begins to turn colder, and many students fall ill.

As of Fall 2023, 33.7% of college students had been diagnosed with the common cold during their tenure on campuses in the U.S., and the second most common illness was the flu virus.

College campuses are often rife with germs, and Ithaca College is attempting to curb flu symptoms by providing a flu Point of Dispensing, but some students may be unable to access the service. Students without AETNA insurance provided by the college may incur fees, and the college only has 600 shots to provide to a large student population. While this is an admirable return to a pre-COVID protocol that helped to stop the spread of influenza on campus, it is one that should in the future be more accessible to a variety of students.

College students in particular are one of the least-served groups for consistent vaccinations and often see themselves as low risk — in actuality, the living conditions of college campuses make it easy for disease to spread. It is also common for college students to fall behind in their annual vaccinations due to gaps in insurance coverage as they transition to adulthood.

The Ithacan appreciates the college’s desire to safeguard the campus community and urges students to get the influenza vaccination if they have the opportunity. Fall break also offers an opportunity to rest and heal during a time where many people fall ill with the change of the weather. Students may not be able to stay home for fear of academic repercussions or strict attendance policies, but personal health is of the utmost priority.  Chronic absenteeism is one of the largest problems facing the educational community after the school closures caused by COVID-19, but attempts to mitigate this through strict attendance policies also runs the risk of spreading illness on campus. This increase in strict attendance policies can actually harm a student’s ability to perform well, because they are trying to be present for the sake of their grade — but they may not be learning.

There must be a compromise between the need for students to attend classes and the need for students to be healthy. Prioritizing student health will create a better environment for all members of the campus community, and this service is a beneficial one that should continue.