By Allie Fick

The University Health Center is now offering flu vaccines for $20, but even with the convenient location and price, not all students are taking advantage of the opportunity.

“I’m not getting it because I have never gotten it in the past, but I actually didn’t even know it was available at the health center. I’ve never seen any type of advertisement for it,” junior psychology major Marissa Berkowitz said.

The Student Health Insurance Plan covers the vaccine, and the health center can also submit the bill to students’ insurance plans upon request, as long as the insurance card is presented prior to the appointment, according to the health center website.

But rather than going to the health center to receive the shot, some students opt to go to CVS instead.

“I would imagine they go to CVS because for lots of people, that’s where they were getting it at home,” Berkowitz said. “They probably feel more comfortable getting it from somewhere they know more about.”

In other cases, the reason students did not get their shot from the health center was because they get them from their regular physicians.

“I get them when I go home for my doctors appointments. I’ve been doing it for the past few years, and I just feel like it’s easier that way,” said junior public health major Brittany Martin.

Many students are supportive of the vaccine but simply haven’t gotten around to getting it yet.

“I don’t see how it could be a bad thing,” said senior journalism major Kevin Bonner. “Letting us get flu shots on campus makes it convenient for everyone and hopefully will keep the virus out of classrooms.

Students, faculty, staff and visitors are asked to call ahead in order to reserve their dose.