The UF Student Health Care Center reordered a limited amount of flu vaccines for students in response to severe local cases.
The SHCC ran out of flu shots Nov. 21 and did not intend to purchase more. It reversed this decision in response to local flu-related hospitalizations, including 12 flu-related deaths at UF Health Shands Hospital since October, said Catherine Seemann, communications coordinator for the SHCC.
“We are definitely working to fulfill whatever requests we can based on what vaccine we can get our hands on,” she said.
Seemann also said she recommends checking local pharmacies for vaccine availability.
The SHCC is careful not to order a surplus of vaccines in an effort to conserve student health fee dollars, Seemann said. Any vaccines that are ordered this season cannot be used the following flu season and must be thrown out if not used.
Seemann said the SHCC will try to gauge and accommodate demand.
“If it goes really, really fast then again we’ll do another search for more vaccine,” she said.
Serra Abak, an 18-year-old UF computer science freshman, said she believes the SHCC’s efforts to restock vaccinations is important despite any added cost.
“Flu vaccinations should never go out of stock,” Abak said.
A version of this story ran on page 1 on 1/15/2014 under the headline "Flu shots available again at student health center"
