The turnout for TCU’s annual flu clinic was down this year, compared to previous sessions and organizers blamed supply chain issues that delayed the scheduling of this year’s clinic.

Nursing students administered 1,870 flu vaccines to students and faculty at the annual Flu Shot Clinic on Oct. 19. The clinic was about two weeks later than in previous years when shots have run out as early as noon and up to 3,500 people got jabbed. 

This year, a few hundred flu shots remained at the end of the day, said Diamond Brown, a senior nursing major and head of the clinic’s logistics team.

“Our numbers went down, and we suspect it was a result of the later, post-fall break date,” Brown said. “However, we had a good number of people come out.”

Participants could register in advance or walk in to receive a flu shot.

Katie Matson, a first-year MBA student, said the clinic’s location in the Campus Recreation Center made getting a flu shot easy.

“I was planning on getting one anyway, and I saw that they were having one on campus, so it’s proximity and convenience that makes it easier,” Matson said.

The clinic also offered bivalent COVID-19 boosters, which the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized in late August. Brown said over 200 Pfizer boosters were administered. The TCU Health Center received all remaining vaccines.

Thanks to the clinic, Davis Le, a senior biology major, got a COVID booster sooner than he expected.

“I knew bivalent boosters were out, so I was trying to figure out where to get it,” Le said. “It was nice to know that the flu clinic had it.”

In addition to keeping students and faculty healthy, the clinic allows nursing students to practice administering vaccinations.

Brown said around 160 nursing students volunteered at the clinic.

Senior nursing major Jernice Neal said her favorite part of volunteering was talking to students and faculty.

“We’re actually giving back to the community in a way, helping the community to try and get some preventative care,” Neal said.

The event was planned by a team of about 20 nursing majors, who spent the last two months preparing for the clinic.

Brendan Healy, a junior English major, said he got the flu shot to prevent him from falling behind in school.

“When I get the flu, I’m out for two weeks,” Healy said. “I didn’t get [a flu shot] last year and I got sick, so I don’t want to get to important times of the semester and find myself unable to go to class.”

Sharon Canclini, assistant professor of professional practice in the Harris College of Nursing and Health Sciences, said getting a flu shot is especially important for college students.

“They’re an at-risk population,” Canclini said. “The risk is that we are a residential dormitory community, so they live in close quarters with each other.”

If you missed the clinic, you can still get a free flu shot or COVID-19 booster at the TCU Health Center while supplies last.