Hyderabad: With 39 positive swine flu cases in December 2014, there is panic in the city, with students who were going to the US for further studies being the most worried.

The last fortnight of December saw a large number of them coming for the vaccination programme to the Institute of Preventive Medicine, and many of them opted for H1N1 vaccination. The total number of swine flu cases in 2014 was 86 in AP and TS There have been 17 cases till January 5, 2015.

Students wearing masks were inquiring whether it would be fine for them to get vaccinated for the flu. Mahesh Phani, an engineering graduate, said, “We have paid all the fees for the university, and can’t afford to fall sick at this juncture. If there is a vaccine available I would like to use it.”

Read: Infant boy among swine flu infected in Hyderabad

While the right time for flu vaccination in India is September, the spurt in the cases has had a lot of students opting for flu vaccination in IPM.

Dr D. Sampat at IPM said, “We give only yellow fever and other vaccinations. Flu vaccine is not compulsory and it is not in the IPM programme. It was because of the increase (of flu cases) that there were many queries and the students wanted to get vaccinated. They were thoroughly examined, their medical history understood and the vaccines were given.”

Many others who have been coming for a fortnight are inquiring about the precautions. Doctors, while vaccinating, are also counselling students on the precautionary measures that they can take.

Zeenat Hussain, another engineering student, said, “We were scared and shocked when we saw a group of boys wearing masks and gloves. My parents thought they were infected and advised me to stay far from them. Even the attending doctor got a scare seeing the group. Later, they explained their reason for being cautious and we were in splits. But it is important for those, who are going to travel abroad to opt for this vaccine as a precautionary measure.”

IPM director Dr K. Amarender Reddy, said, “A vaccine takes at least three weeks to create anti-bodies in a person. Hence we told the students that despite getting vaccinated, safety precautions had to be followed. They must avoid crowded places, wear masks and also consult a doctor in case they suffer mild coughs or colds.”