Strategy
The New Jersey College & University Flu Challenge is a statewide initiative promoting influenza vaccination among college students through friendly competition. The program aims to increase flu vaccination, empower youth to take charge of their health, and strengthen public health partnerships across campuses.
Challenge
College students are at higher risk during the influenza season due to communal living environments, shared facilities, and frequent social interactions. Despite these risks, influenza vaccination rates among young adults remain lower than in other age groups. Contracting influenza can lead to extended illness, causing students to miss classes, exams, and social events, thereby impacting their academic performance and overall college experience. Recognizing this, the New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) identified a need to increase influenza vaccination awareness and uptake among college populations across the state.
Solution
In 2017, the NJDOH launched the College & University Flu Challenge, an annual initiative aimed at increasing influenza vaccination rates among college students. The challenge encourages friendly competition between institutions to determine which campus can achieve the highest influenza vaccination rates. Participating institutions develop and implement tailored influenza vaccination campaigns that resonate with their unique student bodies. The challenge leverages a self-reported student survey to measure vaccination coverage, fostering a sense of accountability and engagement among students. Each college or university designs outreach strategies, such as hosting on-campus vaccination clinics, distributing educational materials, and promoting vaccination through social media campaigns. NJDOH supports these efforts by providing a comprehensive toolkit, promotional flyers, access to public health experts for guidance, and other resources. Institutions are categorized by size (small, medium, large) and compete to achieve the highest percentage of vaccinated students. The results are determined by the student self-reported survey data received. The data is filtered to only include the students who said “yes” to receiving the influenza vaccine. The number of “yes” responses is then taken for each institution of higher education and divided by the undergraduate student body size to determine the estimated percentage vaccinated. The winners of the challenge are determined by the highest percentage of students who self-reported receiving the influenza vaccine for the current flu season. Winners in each category receive a traveling trophy and statewide recognition, while all participants are awarded certificates of participation. This approach not only incentivizes higher vaccination rates but also cultivates a culture of health consciousness and community responsibility within campuses.
Outcome
Since its inception, the College & University Flu Challenge has impacted influenza vaccination efforts across higher education institutions in New Jersey. The 2024–2025 challenge saw participation from 15 colleges and universities, with The College of New Jersey, New Jersey Institute of Technology, and Centenary University winning in their respective categories. These institutions achieved the highest self-reported student vaccination rates, demonstrating the effectiveness of targeted outreach and engagement strategies. The challenge has increased awareness about the importance of flu vaccination among college students, leading to higher vaccination rates and fewer flu-related illnesses on campuses. By fostering a sense of friendly competition and community involvement, the initiative encourages students to take proactive steps to protect their health and their campus community. Its success demonstrates the potential of collaborative public health efforts to promote preventive health care among young adults. Additionally, the program has strengthened partnerships between the NJDOH and higher education institutions, facilitating the sharing of best practices and resources. Institutions of higher education that participate in the challenge are also eligible for participation in the NJ Influenza Honor Roll. The Honor Roll recognizes influenza vaccination initiatives of educational institutions, community-based organizations, businesses, and health care facilities.
Supplemental Materials