The swine flu, also known as the H1N1 virus, has claimed several lives throughout the state of Alabama, and there have been some cases of UA students getting the virus on campus. However, the Student Health Center hopes to help students by providing the new FluMist vaccine, used to combat the swine flu virus.“The FluMist is used nasally and contains the live virus,” said Dr. David Roberts, a student health physician. “The shot works exactly like the mist, and they don’t have many side-effects.”

The H1N1 shot has been delayed, and the SHC doesn’t have the actual shot right now, Roberts said.

“The response of students getting the vaccine has been a good one,” he said. “Also, the vaccine does provide the patient with good immunity against the current H1N1 virus.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the FluMist should be given to people 2 to 49 years old who are not pregnant and do not have certain health conditions. Anyone with an allergy to eggs or any other substance in the vaccine, a weakened immune system or a long-term health problem should also avoid getting the vaccine.

Dr. Jim McVay, director of health promotion and chronic disease at the Alabama Department of Public Health, said there are four manufacturers who produce 200 million doses of the vaccine.

“Some of the producers are across the globe, which include Great Britain and Australia,” McVay said. “There has been a great demand across the state for the vaccine. Over 900 health care providers have ordered over a million doses.”

Andrea Smith, a sophomore majoring pre-medical studies, said getting the vaccine is a great precautionary measure to take to prevent from catching the flu.

“I don’t think the vaccine has been out long enough to have the opportunity to see whether it works or not,” she said.

Smith said since the swine flu furor has died down on campus, she has continued to remain calm about it but maintained a normal hand washing routine.

Roberts said the SHC has given several hundred doses off-site and in Tutwiler Hall and Ridgecrest South.

“Although we have not gotten any of the actual shots for the H1N1 virus, the supplies for the nasal vaccine meet the current demand,” he said.

McVay said one of the goals at the end of November is to travel across the state to public and private schools with a team of nurses and administer the H1N1 vaccine. Due to slow production of the vaccine, ADPH will begin the program at the end of November, McVay said.