Instead of battling it out on the football field or basketball court, Florida State University is taking on the University of Florida, the University of South Florida and the University of Central Florida in a new arena this fall.
For the first time, the four state universities are competing to see which one can get the most students to take a flu shot in a single day.
The competition, “4 ‘U’s Fight the Flu,” will take place simultaneously on each university’s campus from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2.
Health and wellness are critical components to student success in college. The goal of this joint effort between the universities is to inspire students to get influenza vaccines and raise awareness about the important role staying healthy can play in academic performance.
“Students may remember last year’s one-day competition with UF to determine who could give out more flu vaccines. This year, we added UCF and USF to the competition,” said Mari Kay Avant, marketing and outreach coordinator at University Health Services. “We’re planning to keep our title and win another championship.”
While the university with the most flu shots administered will win the competition, all four will claim victory in the fight to make their campus a healthier place.
“We are excited about this opportunity to have a friendly rivalry with our colleagues at other Florida universities while promoting health and wellness at the same time,” said Ryen Pagel, associate director of Clinical Operations at University Health Services.
This event is part of University Health Service’s larger flu campaign effort which will take place Oct. 2 on Landis Green. Free flu vaccines, T-shirts and food will be available to students from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
For more information, visit https://uhs.fsu.edu/flu.