Seasonal flu vaccinations will soon be available to University students, faculty and staff.The Student Health Center has the vaccinations in stock and will distribute them Oct. 19-23, said Julie Hupperich, Student Health Center associate director.The Health Center ordered 3,000 vaccines, but will only administer 2,600 to students, faculty and staff — the other portion was given to the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, Hupperich said. She said the shots will be administered on a first-come, first-served basis, while supplies last.Hupperich said the Health Center anticipates more students will get the vaccine this year because of the heightened awareness from the H1N1 virus.”Most students will probably try to protect against at least one strain, to avoid catching both [H1N1 and seasonal flu],” she said.Despite expecting a bigger turn out, the clinic has the same number of vaccinations as last year because the order was placed in January — before the H1N1 outbreak, Hupperich said.Hupperich said every year the Health Center adds more nurses to assist with the distribution. She said although the center anticipates more recipients this year, it is not changing the usual distribution methods.”Last year we tried distributing the vaccine in the [Student] Union to see if it was more convenient,” she said. “The turn-out was smaller, and we found it’s easier to pool resources at one location rather than stretching out operations to several areas.”Sean Smith, Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals public relations officer, said there is no way to determine how many flu vaccines are in the state because most clinics order through private companies.”We are really encouraging people to get the shot and take extra precautions this year because of the H1N1 outbreak,” he said. “We don’t want people to get both viruses.”Smith said the at-risk group includes people 6 months to 18 years old, people more than 50 years old, pregnant or breast-feeding mothers, people with pre-existing conditions and people with asthma or those living with an asthmatic.Hupperich said the vaccine costs $10 for students and $20 for faculty — cheaper than the average $20-$30 vaccines at other clinics.Jordan Lefler, linguistics graduate student, said she will likely get vaccinated after catching the flu two years ago.”I got a flu shot from the Health Center last year,” she said. “This year will depend on how the virus seems to be spreading on campus.”Ben Carroll, electrical engineering junior, said he didn’t get a flu shot last year and paid the consequences.”I’ll learn from my mistakes and get one this year,” he said.Carroll said the H1N1 outbreak made him more aware of the flu, but he is more concerned with staying healthy as a whole, rather than worrying about the hype of a single disease.”I’m not sure where I plan to go for a vaccine,” he said. “I’ve gone to the Health Center before, but I’m not sure where I’ll go this year.”Though the vaccines are already in stock, the Health Center is waiting until mid-October to administer the vaccine, ensuring the vaccine’s six-month protection window lasts the entire flu season, Hupperich said.”Last year, we were seeing cases as late as February and March,” she said.Hupperich said the Health Center has been much busier this year because of the H1N1 outbreak, but the increase in business has not affected their finances or supplies.”We’ll probably see the H1N1 virus overlap with the seasonal flu,” she said. “It will definitely be a very busy fall.”- – – -Contact Steven Powell at [email protected]