University Health Services (UHS) has exhausted its supply of flu vaccines for the year with no assurance of a future supply, but officials say the shortage is not a serious problem.

UHS marketing manager Ellen Nagy said UHS has ordered more vaccines, but she is unsure whether it will receive the supply.

"Obviously, as a health care provider, we think it's a good idea to get a flu shot," Nagy said.

So far this year, 1,500 people have received the vaccine from UHS, down from last year's total of 2,400 people, Nagy said.

There has not yet been a confirmed case of the flu in the area this year, causing interest in getting a flu shot to decrease, she said.

"When students want the vaccine and can't get it, that's a problem," Nagy said.

Vaccine distributor Maxim Health Systems has been facing a vaccine shortage this year. The company directed all inquiries regarding the shortage to its Web site, which said all flu clinics were canceled after Nov. 6 because of "current distribution challenges."

However, John Messmer, associate professor of family and community medicine at Penn State's Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, said this year's lack of available vaccine is not as problematic as last year's.

Some sections of the country have not received the correct number of vaccines, but at most places, such as at the Hershey Medical Center, manufacturers first sent out partial shipments, creating the illusion of a shortage, Messmer said.

In response, the partial shipments caused many people to get their shots at clinics instead of the medical center, he said.

However, subsequent shipments to Hershey ensured enough vaccines to meet the demand.

Messmer added that all high-risk people, and most of those wanting the shot, have gotten it this year at University Park and the medical center, Messmer added.

Teralyn Carter, vice president of the Minority Association of Pre-Health Students, said she was not planning on getting the shot because it is not guaranteed to protect from all flu strains.

"It is advantageous for certain groups, but I'm not in a high-risk group," Carter said.

However, the lack of flu shots is disappointing for people who wanted it and couldn't get it, she said.

Jessica Johnston (senior-English) wasn't planning on getting a shot because she believes in getting rid of sickness by herself and in building up immunity.

"I don't know many students planning on getting the shot," Johnston said.

Jackie Zucco (senior-psychology) said she uses meditation, nutrition and spiritual practices and doesn't plan on getting the shot.

"I got the flu shot my freshman and sophomore years and got the flu both years," Zucco said.

Messmer said receiving an injection puts a dead virus into the body, and the nasal spray uses a live virus but only infects the nose area without spreading elsewhere.

"It is not common at all to get sick after receiving the flu shot," he said.

Some people's immune systems may react to having a foreign agent in their body for a few days after receiving the shot, but in the future, they will be immune to the flu, Messmer said.

"The more people who get the shot, the less prevalent the flu will be," he added.