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The Daily Tar Heel

H1N1 vaccines unpopular

Only 20 percent of vaccines administered

The University has ordered enough H1N1 vaccines for everyone on campus who wants them, but administrators have been surprised by low demand.

Campus Health Services ordered about 28,000 H1N1 vaccinations in October for every student, staff member, faculty member and hospital patient at the University, but only slightly more than 20 percent have been administered.

Mary Beth Koza, director of UNC’s Department of Environment, Health and Safety, said only about 6,000 people have been vaccinated for H1N1 this academic year. She said this is far too few.

Vaccine clinics in residence halls

The University will offer H1N1 flu vaccination clinics during the next two weeks. The intranasal vaccine will be administered.

  • Today: Craige Residence Hall, green room
  • Monday: Ehringhaus Residence Hall, green room
  • Tuesday: Carmichael Residence Hall ballroom
  • Wednesday: Granville Towers, Agora dining area
  • Thursday: Ram Village and Odum Village, building one multipurpose room
  • Friday: Kenan Residence Hall parlor

Time: 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

A $12 fee is required unless students have one of the following insurance plans: State Health Plan, BlueCross BlueShield, Partners, Aetna, Humana Gold, SummaCare, Advantra Freedom, Medicare Part B

“Getting the student population to get vaccinated has been our greatest challenge,” Koza said. She added that getting as many people vaccinated as possible is important for minimizing the chance of a third wave of outbreaks in January when students return to campus.

The University has made it a top priority during the year to fully educate the campus on ways they can prevent themselves from contracting the H1N1 virus. Posters and e-mails continue to remind students to wash their hands, cover their mouths and stay home if they experience any flu symptoms.

Campus Health Services recently tried to make the vaccination process more convenient for students by holding nightly health events in residence halls to vaccinate students.

Koza said she was disappointed that only 78 students were vaccinated at an event held at Hinton James Residence Hall on Wednesday. Hinton James can house about 770 students.

“Most people believe it’s a mild illness, and they don’t think of all the complications that can happen,” Koza said.

Some students said their main reasons for not getting vaccinated were inconvenience, fear of the vaccine’s novelty and general apathy.

Sophomore journalism major Marijke Devries said she is reluctant to receive a newly developed vaccine.

She said she has never had the flu in the past.

“I’m not sure how stable it is,” Devries said. “There’s not a lot known about the side effects.”

A few students have decided to look past these anxieties and take advantage of the vaccine’s low cost and convenience.

Freshman Allison Rowland said she decided to get a vaccine at the clinic in Morrison Residence Hall on Thursday because several of her family members have been infected with the H1N1 virus.

“My mom really wanted me to get it,” she said.

She added that she was attracted by the convenient location and the ability to receive a nasal spray.

The H1N1 vaccines are $12 at Campus Health Services for those without insurance and free to those with certain providers. The fee pays for an outside health care agency to provide staff for the vaccination service. Nasal sprays and shots are available. The seasonal flu vaccine is a different vaccine that does not protect against the H1N1 virus.

Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.

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