The Student Health Center is providing flu vaccinations to all students wishing to be immunized as long as quantities last.

According to Lynette Lewis, assistant director and administrator for VSU Health Center, there has been an increase in the number of flu cases in the Valdosta area.

The Center for Disease Control keeps a weekly archive called the FluView report on their CDC.gov website.

The archive presents a record of influenza surveillance throughout the United State.

The data is broken down into regional summaries that record the influenza activity that has occurred in each of those regions over the past years, as well as the weekly influenza activity for the current year.

According to last year’s FluView report, influenza activity in the United States began picking up in mid-Dec. and continued to increase until the week of Jan. 1.

According to the CDC, “The number of states reporting regional or widespread influenza activity increased. This increase in activity is typical of the start of flu season.”

For Valdosta, influenza activity continued to elevate until mid-March of 2011.

For this reason, The VSU Health Center is continuing to offer the flu shot to students and faculty at a minimal cost, said Lewis.

Flu vaccinations will be administered at the Student Health Center, located at 200 Georgia Avenue.

The cost consists of $10 for students and $20 for faculty. Payments can be made in cash or check.

Students may obtain their flu vaccinations without an appointment on Jan. 20 from 9a.m. to 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Appointments must be scheduled ahead of time for all other days.

Appointments can be scheduled online at (http://services.valdosta.edu/health/staff.aspx) or via phone.

If you have any questions, or want to make an appointment to obtain a flu vaccination, please call the Student Health Center at (229) 333-5886.