Student Health will provide H1N1 vaccines for $19.96 to students 24 years of age and younger tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Alumni Hall.
The Centers for Disease Control recommends that individuals younger than 24 should be vaccinated against H1N1 because they have had the highest rate of hospitalizations from the virus, Student Health Director James Turner said.
Even with the vaccine's age restriction, about 16,000 University students - including most undergraduate and some graduate and professional school students - will be eligible for vaccination, Turner said.
Intravene, the company working with Student Health to administer the vaccine, will hire more than 25 nurses and 10 to 15 administrative clerks to deliver 300 doses each hour, he said.\nStudent Health officials recommend that students receive the vaccine for a variety of reasons, not least of which is to protect their own health.
"With the upcoming Thanksgiving holidays, I would say for an otherwise healthy student," Turner said. "The most compelling reason to get the vaccine would be to not only protect themselves but also to protect their family and friends."
Vaccinated students, however, should still take the usual measures to prevent spread of the disease, as the doses may not prove 100 percent effective. Healthy practices such as hand-washing, Turner added, can slow the spread of other illnesses as well.
Student Health hopes to obtain vaccines for all students in the future, especially if there is a large turnout at this week's clinic.
"This is a great and unusual opportunity for students to get this vaccine," Turner said. "I can't tell you what a struggle it's been to get [it], so I really hope we have a good turnout."
-compiled by Prateek Vasireddy
Read More
Student Council votes to relocate Hereford orchard and basketball hoop
By Lauren Seeliger | 3 hours agoStudent Council passed a resolution Tuesday to relocate the orchard and basketball hoop of Hereford Residential College due to construction in the surrounding area.
Dean Rucker honored with Z Society’s highest honor, Pale Z Award
By Brendon Bordwine | 19 hours agoThe Society has a storied history of honoring University leaders with the Pale Z.
Students receive free STI testing through U.Va. Health and Wellness
By Jackie Bond | YesterdayThrough funding from Student Council, students are now able to receive free STI testing with SHW which includes tests for HIV, Syphilis, Gonorrhea, Chlamydia and Hepatitis C.
