U. vaccinates 2,300 for H1N1

Of the 2,271 people who were vaccinated, 1,801 were students, 48 were faculty, 279 were staff and 143 were dependents, Aronson said. Eligible dependents include spouses, domestic partners and children of University students and employees.

On Thursday, state officials announced that vaccine providers may now open H1N1 flu vaccine clinics to everyone, given the recent increase in vaccine supplies. The University plans to hold an H1N1 flu vaccine clinic on Jan. 8, open to all members of the University community, Aronson noted.

“Recognizing that students are leaving for break and that many employees will be taking time off for the holidays, more information about the next H1N1 vaccine clinic will be provided via all campus e-mails and information posted on the H1N1 web page after winter recess ends,” Aronson said in an e-mail.

The University previously held H1N1 flu vaccine clinics on Nov. 4, Nov. 10, Nov. 16, Nov. 24 and Dec. 3.

The University initially received 2,000 doses of the vaccine for distribution at the first clinic. To be eligible to receive the vaccine from the state, providers had to agree to distribute vaccinations according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s health prioritization guidelines. This meant that the first two clinics, on Nov. 4 and Nov. 10, were only open to University medical personnel, students and student dependents in the “highest health priority groups,” including pregnant women and students under age 25 with medical conditions that cause them to be at higher risk for complications from the flu.

The third clinic, on Nov. 16, was open to all of those groups, as well as all students under age 25.

All faculty, staff, students and dependents will be eligible to receive the vaccine at the Jan. 8 clinic, which will be held in the Frist Campus Center.