Lines snaked out of the Aidekman Arts Center and around the block yesterday as an unusually high number of students waited in line during the second straight day of Health Service's free flu vaccinations.
By the end of the seasonal flu clinic's first day on Wednesday, staff had administered about 1,400 vaccinations. By early evening on Thursday, the clinic had run out of the 700 remaining vaccines — over two hours before it was scheduled to end.
"We've given out 700 vaccines and we're done," Tufts Health Service Medical Director Margaret Higham said yesterday. "We've definitely had record interest and a record number of vaccines."
Health Service ordered 2,100 flu shots in total, nearly double what it has ordered in past years. Usually there are vaccine shots left over even when more clinics are offered, Higham said.
In anticipation of higher turnout, Health Service held the clinic in Alumnae Lounge for the first time. "We thought that there would be more takers this year and this location would help with flow," O'Dea said.
The campus administration heavily publicized the event, with two campus-wide e-mails as well as announcements on Tuftslife.com and the Health Service Web site. "Tufts is taking it pretty seriously," said Isabel Leon, a freshman waiting in line for her vaccine. "It's making me pretty anxious."
Leon wasn't deterred by the length of the line. "The line seems to be moving faster than the Fall Ball ticket line," she said. "At least here I know I'll get in."
Lauren Verra, a senior, participated in the clinic for the first time this year. "I just heard the regular flu is going to be even stronger this year."
Clinic Manager Kathleen O'Dea said the high levels of student participation were due in part to the H1N1, or swine flu, scare. The swine flu was declared a pandemic in June. "The H1N1 publicity has been worldwide," she said. "I think the word has gotten out that people should protect themselves against the seasonal flu as well."
Higham agreed that the swine flu hype prompted student notice.
"People are a little confused about the swine flu versus the winter flu," Higham said, "but I think whatever raises people's awareness or interest is good ... As health care providers, we always think it's great when more people get vaccinated."
The event was facilitated by the Tufts Emergency Medical Services (TEMS) staff, who helped direct the flow of students. "Their help was invaluable," Higham said. "We've never had such great demand and we really couldn't have done it without them."
"I think it's going amazingly well," said senior Allie Krill, executive director of TEMS. "Everything seems to be operating really efficiently."
Many of the students in line hoped the vaccine would help them avoid infecting housemates or roommates with the flu. "I live in an apartment with other people and I wanted to prevent an outbreak," graduate student Charlie Cunningham said.
Others were simply taking advantage of the fact that the clinic was free of charge for Tufts students. "It's a free shot," junior Ethan Frigon said. "Can't complain!"
The clinic's vaccine only immunized against the seasonal flu. The highly publicized H1N1 vaccine was approved by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) on Tuesday, but Higham estimates that it will not be available for processing and shipping until mid-October. "We can't give clear details until we have clearer details ourselves," she said.
Health Service is unsure how many H1N1 vaccines Tufts will receive, and a system of distribution has not been finalized.
"Who we will give it to will depend on how much we get at first," Higham said. "College students who have serious health care conditions will be at a higher priority."
The seasonal flu vaccine will still be available for students in local drug stores and Health Service will continue vaccinations for employees and staff until its allotted supplies run out. Higham asked students to remember that the seasonal flu doesn't usually hit until January.
"No need to panic," she said.
