According to the Center for Disease Control cases of influenza continue to spread rapidly across the US. Forty-eight states are said to be in the peak of the season as flu-related hospitalizations and deaths continue to grow nation-wide. NBC 38’s Maria Jones explains what Columbus Technical College is doing to prevent their student population from getting sick.

Armed and ready with about 200 vaccines on hand, the Columbus Public Health Department and Columbus Technical College are increasing their efforts to prevent the spread of H1N1. “They are congregating they are in group settings a lot and that’s where we are finding a lot of the spread in these younger kids. So it’s an excellent opportunity where you find congregate groups in order to vaccinate and so we can help stop the spread of the disease,” Sheila Mayfield/Clinical Nursing Director-Columbus Public Health Department said. But many say they are unsure if they should get the vaccine or not. “I think that some people are not taking the precautions that they need. People are still going to work sick, still sending their kids to school sick because they don’t want them to miss school and these types of things and I then also I think some people are still a little scared of getting the vaccines so by doing this we also feel we are supporting the community,” Tammy Shelley/School of Health Sciences added. But first year CTC student Martez Upshaw says he’d rather be prepared. “And I decided to come over here and you know go ahead and get the vaccine so it will already be in my system so I won’t have to worry about it later.” About 150 H1N1 Nasal vaccines have been administered today at Columbus Technical College as a part of their prevention program but this also gives senior nursing students an opportunity to prepare as they enter the medical profession.

“Most of them haven’t administered those nasal sprays before. So it gave us the opportunity to educate them on another aspect of vaccinating that was not familiar to them so that they can use it in their daily practices when they get into, get their nursing license,” Mayfield said. At the end of the day all 200 vaccines were administered to students and faculty at CTC.

Wednesday the Columbus Health Department will begin issuing the H1N1 Vaccine in the injection form for those in high risk groups, like pregnant women, people with underlying medical conditions and those who are care givers.