University of Iowa Pharmacy students administered flu vaccines Tuesday at the Hy-Vee located at 1720 Waterfront Drive in Iowa City, making it more convenient for the public to receive their shots before flu season reaches its peak.

The UI College of Pharmacy started training students to administer immunizations in 2004, according to UI Public Relations Manager Chris Brewer. Now, over 110 students are currently administering vaccines throughout the community.

Kelly Vu and Jacob Kokko-Ludemann are UI College of Pharmacy third-year students and administered vaccines at Hy-Vee for the past two years.

“All first-years go through vaccine training, and once they are certified they get to go out into the field and administer vaccines,” Vu said.

Flu season is typically late September to mid-October or early November, Kokko-Ludemann said. Currently, the number of people coming in to receive flu vaccines is low, but the demand will pick up again as October approaches.

Research shows that those who receive the flu vaccine are 40 to 60 percent less likely to contract the flu, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC encourages the public to get their flu vaccine this year as the virus is constantly changing.

Vu’s motivation to become a pharmacist stems from helping her family members remember when to take their medications and how much of the medication to take. This grew her interest in the health care and pharmacy field.

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“I wanted to learn more about how the medications work within the body,” Vu said.

Kokko-Ludemann grew up in a small town in northern Wisconsin where his local pharmacy was the main hub for medicine.

“The pharmacists know everybody, and everybody knows the pharmacist,” Kokko-Ludemann said. “I wanted to be a part of the healthcare that gives back to smaller communities and really makes a difference.”