The Department of Health Studies is conducting a voluntary survey on student opinions about the H1NI vaccine, which was offered for free at Lantz Arena in the fall.

Kathy Phillips, intern coordinator for the department, is among the panel of three professors and one student collecting data on students’ perceptions about the H1N1 immunization through the end of April.

Though the flu season can extend as late as May, Phillips said the department does not expect a re-emergence of the virus in the coming months, and, Health Service said no cases of the virus were reported on campus for the month of February.

Although the department does not currently perceive a significant cause for alarm, Phillips said she and her colleagues are interested in uncovering the reason why so few students chose not to take advantage of the flu clinic offered in November that provided free vaccinations.

“After reviewing the literature, we discovered that other universities experienced a lower-than-expected turnout of students,” Phillips said. “What we hope to find out is why students did not take the vaccine.”

Health Service reported that over the course of the school year 430 students contracted the H1N1 influenza virus.

A total of 1,725 vaccines were administered on campus in the fall.

An electronic survey was distributed to students through their Panthermail accounts on Monday that may lead to the development of educational intervention strategies.

The survey is estimated to take 10 to 12 minutes to complete and requests that students gauge their opinion on the validity of such statements as, “My chances of getting H1N1 are great,” and “H1N1 is a serious disease,” on a scale ranging from strong agreement to strong disagreement.

Erica Whelan can be reached at 581-7942 or elwhelan@eiu.edu.