The University of Arkansas Cossatot has won the "Immunize Arkansas Campus Flu Vaccine Challenge."
Arkansas Immunization Action Coalition, with help from Arkansas Department of Health and support from Arkansas Department of Higher Education, developed a friendly "Vaccination Challenge" among all colleges and universities in Arkansas wanting to participate, according to Emily Newlin, director of Cossatot's institutional advance- ment.
Ten institutions participated, and about 850 students reported they received a flu vaccine in the fall of 2017.
Second place in the challenge went to North Arkansas College, followed by Henderson State University. Rankings are calculated based on the percentage of the undergradu- ate student population reporting getting a flu vaccine.
UA Cossatot students, staff and commu- nity members were offered free flu shots at health fairs hosted on each campus by the UA Cossatot Center for Student Success, Newlin said.
"When we started this challenge we had no idea this was going to be such a terrible flu season," said Arkansas Immunization Action Coalition Executive Director Heather Mercer.
Arkansas Department of Health Project Coordinator Victoria Russell and Mercer awarded a trophy to the UA Cossatot Center for Student Success and CSS Coordinator Erika Buenrrostro.