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UCF Gives 2,527 Flu Shots at Mass Vaccination Event
By Kimberly Lewis Sept. 30, 2009
Seed NewsvineUCF, Centra Care and Get Healthy Florida today administered 2,527 seasonal flu vaccines to students, faculty, staff and the community in an eight-hour mass vaccination event held inside the UCF Arena.
Today’s event was an effort to protect as many students, faculty and staff as possible from seasonal flu.
“We vaccinated more people today than all the flu shots we gave last flu season,” said J. Robert Wirag, director of UCF Health Services. Last season, UCF gave 1,179 flu shots.
Seasonal flu can pose great risks on its own. Because the H1N1 flu virus is also circulating, getting infected with both flu viruses is possible, which could cause serious health complications, according to Wirag.
“This year, it’s especially important to get a seasonal flu shot now, and get the H1N1 vaccine when it becomes available,” said Wirag.
Seasonal flu vaccines are still available for students at the UCF Health Center. Faculty, staff and community members can contact their health care provider for information about getting a seasonal flu shot.
The day began at 11 a.m., when UCF student-athletes arrived for their flu vaccines. Starting at noon, students, faculty, staff and members of the community began receiving their shots.
The first 500 adults age 18 and older received their shots for free, and 500 free vaccines were available for children age 17 and younger. All subsequent vaccines for adults were given at a discounted rate of $10 for all UCF students and $20 for all others. An additional 1,500 free vaccines were available for pre-identified students of financial need.
The event was sponsored by UCF Health Services, the UCF Student Government Association, Centra Care and Get Healthy Florida. Students and faculty from UCF’s College of Nursing assisted Centra Care providers in administering the vaccines.
Today’s event was promoted as an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for most flu shots given in one day. The record is currently held by Centra Care and Get Healthy Florida, with 3,271 flu shots given in an eight-hour time period.
The event also featured a drawing for tickets to two upcoming performances at UCF Arena: a Radio City Rockettes show and a Sesame Street Live performance. Two Radio City Rockettes were on hand today to greet visitors and promote the event.
UCF Stands for Opportunity: The University of Central Florida is a metropolitan research university that ranks as the 5th largest in the nation with more than 52,000 students. UCF's first classes were offered in 1968. The university offers impressive academic and research environments that power the region's economic development. UCF's culture of opportunity is driven by our diversity, Orlando environment, history of entrepreneurship and our youth, relevance and energy. For more information, visit http://news.ucf.edu.
