With flu season in full swing and H1N1 cases popping up in campuses all over the nation, officials are urging college students to take time from their busy schedules to get vaccinated.
“We’re not out of the woods yet,” Secretary of Education Arne Duncan told reporters in a conference call Thursday. “The flu season is just beginning.”
According to Duncan, despite the decrease in cases of H1N1 across the country, it’s important that as many college students, who are some of the most likely to catch the virus, get vaccinated as soon as possible.
A study from the American College Health Association shows 84 percent of colleges have vaccines for the H1N1 virus, and Duncan said colleges receive more on a daily basis.
UF students are taking advantage of the free flu vaccines available at the Student Health Care Center.
Dr. Phillip Barkley, the center’s director, noticed a decrease of patients coming in with flu-like symptoms, down to about 50 students a week, but an increase of interest in regards to the H1N1 vaccines.
“We had about 700 students come in Wednesday for the vaccine, and we’ve done several outreaches these past months,” he said.
Despite warnings, students are still going to class sick because finals are just around the corner.
“You’re not helping your peers by going to class if you are sick,” Duncan said. “If you are sick, you are highly contagious and need to stay home.”
Duncan also hopes that college faculties and administrations will be flexible with college students who are infected with H1N1 and provide make-up exams.
