Mercer Times

For the seventh year in a row, The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) has secured top honors in its category during the annual New Jersey College and University Flu Challenge. Among six participating schools in the medium school category, TCNJ reported the highest percentage of students who claimed to have received the flu vaccine.

Holly Heller, director of student health services at TCNJ, stated, "We entered the challenge as a way to increase awareness and encourage more students to get their flu vaccine this year." She emphasized that increased vaccination rates would lead to fewer flu cases on campus, benefiting the entire community.

The New Jersey Department of Health launched this initiative in 2017 with the aim of boosting vaccination rates among college students. This demographic often shows lower immunization rates, and communal living spaces on campuses can facilitate the spread of influenza.

This year saw participation from 15 institutions across three size-based categories. The Department of Health tracked self-reported vaccination numbers from each institution and announced the winners on February 13, 2025.