College mascots will be leading the charge to educate students about H1N1 immunization this month. Special events during February basketball games at UNC-Chapel Hill, N.C. State, East Carolina, Fayetteville State, UNC-Wilmington, North Carolina A&T, UNC-Charlotte and Winston-Salem State will feature mascots wearing bandages on their arms with the message “The Flu Stops With Me.”
Coach Sidney Lowe of N.C. State has even gotten involved, with a special announcement during the Wolfpack’s game this week against Virginia Tech and again on Feb. 17 at the RBC Center.
College students continue to be the least protected against H1N1. According to statistics from our Immunization Branch, just five percent of 19-24 year olds statewide have been immunized against this year’s flu.