Students, faculty, and staff at NMU are being encouraged to participate in the 2020 winter flu shot competition, Yooper U’s Fight the Flu. This event, organized by NMU’s Center for Rural Health, puts NMU in competition with three other UP universities, Finlandia University, Lake Superior State University and Michigan Technological University.

Flu shot clinics organized as part of the competition occur at NMU from 12-4 p.m. at the Northern Center on Oct. 13 and 27 as well as Nov. 10. Before attending a clinic, students and faculty must print out and sign a consent form in order to receive care. 

Those interested can also receive flu shots at other clinics, at the health department, or at pharmacies. Finlandia, LSSU and MTU will hold their own flu shot clinics on each campus. 

When participants have received their flu shots, they must self-report the fact that they have been immunized in the competition link.

The Center for Rural Health has organized this competition in 2020 “In an effort to further protect our campus communities throughout the region,” according to NMU. It is therefore encouraged by the University to “take pride in protecting yourself and others by reducing the risk of flu illnesses this year.”

According to the Center for Disease Control, “Getting a flu vaccine is more important than ever during 2020-2021 to protect yourself and the people around you from flu, and to help reduce the strain on healthcare systems responding to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Whichever university wins the competition will receive a trophy from the Center for Rural Health, but, most importantly according to the center, “best of all, bragging rights.”