Students who wish to protect themselves from the flu this year have less than one week to receive an immunization from the Thielen Student Health Center before the vaccines are reallocated.

Only people who are at a high risk for complications from influenza are eligible for the vaccine. Revised guidelines for administering immunizations are available online.

“We do have enough to cover our high-risk students, as far as we know,” said Dr. Marc Shulman, staff physician at the Thielen Student Health Center. “We will redistribute what we have left.”

Redistribution to off-campus medical offices will take place on Nov. 2.

“We want to make sure we get [vaccines] out to the high-risk people in the county before the flu season comes,” Shulman said.

Any remaining supply of vaccine will be released to the Story County Department of Public Health. From there, medical providers like the Mary Greeley Medical Center will receive the highly demanded vaccine.

“We have not been able to have any public clinics,” said Eileen Mullan, director of Homeward, Story County’s public health agency. “We have received no doses of an activated vaccine for clinics.”

Homeward ordered around 6,000 doses this year from Chiron Corp., a British pharmaceutical company. The shortage was caused by the suspension of Chiron’s license to manufacture the influenza vaccine.

Mullan said this has caused many similar shortages across the state, which leave adults with few options to protect themselves from the flu season.

“We tell them to notify their physician,” Mullan said. “It’s hard to tell from week to week who has the vaccine.”

A shortage last year limited Homeward immunization to around 4,500 adults last fall. No estimates exist for this year’s supply.

“We have no idea how many doses we will get,” Mullan said.

A very limited supply of the flu vaccine is available through Homeward for children between the ages of six and 23 months.

ISU students experienced a very mild flu outbreak last year because of an abundance of vaccines, Shulman said. More people may become infected this year.

“We’re concerned this year that we may see a lot more cases on campus because we cannot immunize those living in dorms and fraternities,” Shulman said.

“They’re not considered high risk.”

Students who will not receive an immunization this year are encouraged to take precautions to avoid becoming ill. Doctors urge proper hand washing to prevent the spread of infection. Students who are infected are advised to stay home and avoid close contact with others.