Sacramento State students took precautions to avoid becoming sick before going home for the holidays by lining up for free H1N1 vaccinations on Friday at the University Union lobby.

Student Health Center Associate Director Lisa Johnson estimated that around 1,300 students and faculty received the H1N1 shot this week. Johnson said the Health Center staff had been preparing for the free clinic, which also offered regular seasonal flu shots, since last week.

“We had our first H1N1 clinic last week, so within a few days we had it out,” said Johnson. “We wanted faculty and staff to be protected for the holidays.”

Electrical engineering graduate student Shyamal Jagtap received the H1N1shot for preventive reasons.

“I’ve heard that a lot of people get affected and die,” said Jagtap. “I’m just taking precautions.”

Taking extra measures to avoid illness was the main reason students listed for standing in line.

Education graduate student Kathy Lester normally gets a flu shot each year at the elementary school where she teaches but said that this year the school did not have shots available for their staff.

Lester said the free clinic this week was the easiest way for her to get vaccinated because it was located on campus, where she was running errands.

There have been clinics … where I live, but both have been inconvenient with my schedule,” said Lester.

Lester commended the clinic and hopes to see similar events on campus in the future.

“These days we are all sort of responsible for our own healthcare,” said Lester. “This is a great way to take charge.”

Junior psychology major Tessa Thomas saw the effects of the H1N1 virus when her sister was hospitalized after catching it.

Thomas researched the vaccine on the Internet before arriving to the clinic and felt that its benefits outweighed the risks of being inoculated.

“I know that mercury is a concern,” said Thomas. “I don’t like getting shots, but I’m very serious about my studies and don’t want to risk missing any school. I’ve seen firsthand how it can impact your studies.”

Lester said she is susceptible to pneumonia and that getting sick from a flu that goes deeper into the lungs than regular seasonal flu is a concern of hers.

“It’s good to be cautious when you work around small kids that sneeze on you all the time,” said Lester.

Thomas was also concerned about what being sick might mean during her winter break if she did not get the shot.

“I don’t want to miss out on snowboarding,” said Thomas. “And I just don’t like being sick.”

Julia Baum can be reached at [email protected].