University of Texas at Austin is trying to boost efforts to protect students and staff from catching the flu.The University Health Service Office will provide flu shots Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Students Service Building’s Glenn Maloney Room.
"Because of the increase in flu cases, huge demand and the telephone calls we were getting about folks wanting flu shots, we scheduled an additional flu shots clinic," Sherry Bell, senior program coordinator for University Health Service said.
The flu that put the nation feeling under the weather has also hit UT campus. The Health Service's month-long flu shots campaign last fall immunized around 10,000 people. Despite its effort, health workers diagnosed three times more patients with flu-like symptoms through last Nov. to this Jan. than they did same period last year.
“Even though the flu season generally peaks in January and February, it occurs in the United States through April and sometimes into early May," Bell added. "Getting the flu shot is still the best protection against the flu. It can help keep students from missing midterms, finals and it can keep them from having fun over spring break."
Students must show their ID cards to get the shot. Faculty or staff with no insurance or non-UT Select insurance will be charged $10. Students who got a flu shot already do not need to get another one.
