Posters will be put up in universities and colleges across Ontario to push students to get the H1N1 vaccine. (Photo Provided)

The provincial government is spending roughly $650,000 on advertisements encouraging university and college students to attend H1N1 immunization clinics.

“University students are away from home for possibly the first time and away from their family’s influence,” said Kevin Finnerty, executive director of the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care communications and information branch.

Using a series of advertisements, Ontario is aiming to combat students’ apparent disinterest in the vaccine — a York University survey reported only 11 out of 100 enrolled students said they would actively seek a vaccination.

Until Dec. 10 there will be online ads, e-mails sent to students via their student unions, and posters at restaurants and other public places urging students to get immunized.

After that, ads will be played at theatres before a movie. Then in January, more posters, radio and newspaper ads will be shown.

According to the ministry, people under the age of 20 make up approximately half the documented H1N1 cases in Ontario.

But what has been the effect on   students?

“I don’t think that the posters attempt to force you to go,” said Nicholas Giardini, a first-year psychology student who attends the University of Ottawa. “They are just there to remind you it’s something you should do.”

However, there are signs of improvement in public opinion of the shot.

“More than 2,300 students, faculty and staff were vaccinated against H1N1 at this week’s flu shot clinic,” Queen’s University reported Dec. 2.

Ontario’s chief medical officer of health, Dr. Arlene King, said roughly half of the people hospitalized for H1N1 are under the age of 20, and 13 per cent of deaths in Ontario related to H1N1 have been people under 25.

Many students will be leaving campuses for the holiday break, and the government has no plans to end the campaign soon.

“A pandemic can last 12 to 18 months so as of right now it’s hard to tell,” Finnerty said.

For now, he said hopes remain high that more students will go get immunized.