The University of Georgia’s annual #flUGA flu vaccination campaign will return Tuesday with more vaccination opportunities across campus and a goal of administering 10,000 flu vaccines.
The campaign will begin alongside #BeWellUGA Week. As of Aug. 28, 18 vaccination events have been scheduled with more expected, according to Steve Rose, assistant director of communications and external relations for the University Health Center and UGA Well-being Resources.
“We want to get as many students, faculty and staff vaccinated as possible, so we are removing as many barriers as we can,” Rose said in an email to The Red & Black.
According to Rose, the two biggest barriers students face when getting their flu shot are time and cost. To address those concerns, #flUGA will bring vaccines to different areas of campus throughout September and October.
Students will be able to receive vaccines Monday through Thursday from 1-3 p.m. and 5-9 p.m. at outreach clinics, dining halls and through the mobile #flUGA flu cart. Vaccinations will also be offered on the first floor of the new Dining, Learning, and Well-being Center.
The clinics will be located at the Miller Learning Center and Tate Student Center. The flu cart will also operate around class schedules to give students opportunities to get vaccinated before and after class.
Students will be able to receive their flu shot with no out-of-pocket cost, partly due to financial support from the UGA President’s Office.
Students are asked to provide any insurance information so the financial support can stretch further to help those who are uninsured or underinsured.
UGA administered 9,523 flu vaccines throughout the 2025-26 flu season, according to Rose. Vaccinations continued until the remaining vaccine supply was used.
Last year was the first time UGA students helped with the campaign.
“The extra help they provided and the enthusiasm they brought to the campaign was a game-changer,” Rose said.
The UGA College of Pharmacy will also continue its partnership with #flUGA, providing pharmacy students with opportunities for patient interaction.
Ashley Chinchilla, a faculty member at the UGA College of Pharmacy, said the college began partnering with the University Health Center in 2013.
Faculty from the College of Pharmacy help to plan vaccination locations, while pharmacy students rotate through different responsibilities at the clinics, including directing and screening patients, checking paperwork, administering vaccines and assisting with documentation.
Before working with patients, pharmacy students complete a 20-hour immunization certificate program through the American Pharmacists Association during their first year. The training includes home study modules, a live lecture and practice administering intramuscular and subcutaneous injections.
Students also participate in a mock flu vaccine clinic and additional vaccine skills training before returning to clinics during their second year.
Chinchilla said making vaccines accessible on campus is particularly important for college students.
“With the flu vaccine being annual, it’s just one that’s easily missed,” Chinchilla said. “It can be inconvenient because they’ve got a lot on their plates, working, going to school, whatever they have in their personal lives and so we just want to take some of those factors out and make things as convenient as possible.”
Chinchilla noted increased promotion, word of mouth and strategically placing clinics in visible areas have helped the campaign gain recognition and reach more people over the years.
Chinchilla also emphasized the importance of the collaboration between the College of Pharmacy and University Health Center staff throughout the campaign.
“The University Health Center’s partnership has been so valuable,” Chinchilla said. “I work closely with the pharmacists there, but also work with nursing and [the health center’s communications team]. The whole collaborative environment has really been a wonderful thing to experience.”
The number of vaccines given as part of #flUGA has increased every year since 2020. As awareness of the campaign has grown, it has developed into a fall tradition for many students, many of whom have begun taking photos of their #flUGA bandages.
“A fun catch phrase has developed over the years with students yelling ‘I got mine!’ as the flu cart drives by,” Rose said. “It’s become more than just getting the vaccine; it’s about being a part of a UGA tradition.”