UF students can get free flu shots today at the Student Health Care Center.
The “mass vaccination event” will occur from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the front lawn of the center, Catherine Seemann, the center’s marketing coordinator, said. The first 500 students vaccinated will receive a free T-shirt.
To receive a free shot, students must bring their Gator 1 card and will need to fill out a consent form on-site, she said.
Though intramuscular flu shots will remain free for students for the rest of the year, the center hopes the event will encourage more people to be vaccinated earlier in the flu season, Seemann said. Intradermal shot and FluMist vaccination options are available for $15, according to the center’s website.
The 2012-2013 flu vaccine is designed to protect against three strains of influenza experts predict will be most common this season. One strain resembles H1N1, or “swine flu,” and another strain is similar to the 2010 epidemic flu strain, according to the center’s website.
As of Wednesday morning, about 100 students were pre-registered online for the event. The center hopes to vaccinate at least 500 students today.
Biology and nutrition senior Leshawn Richards has already registered to receive his flu shot. He said he thinks the precaution is important for everyone.
“It can really save a lot of time and hassle for you, because if you do get the flu, then you feel awful,” Richards, 22, said. “Especially because it’s my senior year, I don’t want to miss anything because I’m sick.”
