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UNC ordering more vaccines

Record number requested nationwide

After last year’s H1N1 pandemic on campuses, University Campus Health Services is making use of an increased supply of vaccines to keep students flu free.

Jeff Dimond, spokesman for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said 160 million flu vaccines were produced for this flu season nationwide, which is a record amount.

“We have more than ever,” he said.

But UNC Campus Health has already used up all of the vaccines that they ordered in the fall, said Mary Covington, executive director for UNC Campus Health Services.

After an increase in reports of flu-like illnesses reported by the CDC, Campus Health has already ordered more doses from the state’s health department, Covington said.

At the beginning of fall semester, UNC Campus Health hosted mobile clinics at different campus locations to administer free vaccines, Covington said.

“Unfortunately, few people took advantage of these as much as they could,” Covington said.

“We probably didn’t get as much people vaccinated as we hoped.”

There are none left for now, she said.

Each year flu vaccines are made differently depending on the strains of virus that are circulating, Dimond said.

This year the vaccine helps protect against the type A strain of flu also known as H3N2, the type B influenza and last year’s H1N1.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention strongly encourages every American above the age of six months to be vaccinated, Dimond said.

College students tend to live in groups, which makes them vulnerable to contracting airborne diseases, Dimond said.

“They live in dorms, use common bathrooms and common facilities,” he said.

“Those are perfect breeding grounds for the flu.”

Despite the increased amounts of preparation, some UNC administrators say this process is just for prevention.

“I have not gotten any information from the campuses that we are seeing anything of significant difference than what we definitely see during a regular flu season,” said Brent Herron, associate vice president of campus safety and emergency operations for the UNC system.

“I would say at this point everybody is geared up for a normal flu season,” he said.

But administrators are still urging students to take preventive measures by getting vaccinated and practicing appropriate hygiene.

“If you are sick, stay home — don’t go out and spread it,” Dimond said.

“Remember you are still contagious 24 hours after you feel better.”

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If there is a significant increase of flu cases reported on the UNC-system campuses, Herron said the administration would work with the state’s health department to take adequate measures.

Contact the State and National Editor at state@dailytarheel.com.

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