The 2025-2026 flu season has impacted the UT community, along with the rest of the country, at a higher rate than usual.
While Tennessee’s number of diagnosed cases per week is currently declining from its peak in December of 2025, there have still been recent outbreaks in Knox County that continue to impact students in multiple ways.
One of the main reasons for the rampant spread this season is a decrease in the effectiveness of the flu vaccine.
“Effectiveness of the flu vaccine fluctuates every year, and it appears the vaccine is not as effective this year,” Director of UT Student Health Services Rebecca Morgan said.
The vaccine, which is typically an extra layer of protection against the flu, has not provided the same level of resistance, making it less likely for those who are vaccinated to build immunity.
According to Morgan, UT’s streak of inclement weather and class cancellations over the past few months have contributed to the transmission of the virus as well.
The university closed campus due to icy conditions three times over the course of the semester, and cold temperatures have continued into late February.
With students remaining in close quarters during the winter season, the flu has been able to make its way through dorms. UT freshman on-campus resident Seth Daniel, who contracted the virus days after his roommate tested positive, said, “Every roommate is giving it to the other, and it’s just kind of spreading that way.”
Daniel, along with many other students who have tested positive for the flu this season, described one of the biggest inconveniences resulting from the illness as missing class.
The issue of class absence policies has been a controversial topic on campus, especially with the major uptick in flu cases.
Ava Stamelos, a freshman who recently came down with the flu, described her experience with missing class.
“It wasn’t getting the excuse note itself — that was pretty easy and simple,” Stamelos said. “It was more of the fact that teachers aren’t very lenient about that.”
A shared frustration among students surrounding class excusals has grown alongside the number of diagnosed flu cases this season, adding to the stress already felt as a result of missing class and assignments mid-semester.
The university’s Health and Illness Support Form is meant to assist with this complication, but individual teacher policies continue to prevent students from missing class without penalty.
“Even if you have an excuse and you test positive for the flu, you literally can’t get excused for that,” Stamelos said.
Students like Daniel and Stamelos, who had severe flu symptoms, found themselves physically unable to attend class, making these policies problematic and challenging to navigate.
Although this year’s flu vaccine is less effective than usual, certain individual measures can be taken by students to prevent illness.
“Flu is a respiratory virus and is spread by droplet transmission through the air and on surfaces,” Morgan said.
She lists protective strategies as frequent hand washing and sanitizing, as well as cleaning surfaces.
If students develop symptoms, Morgan said that they should “call the Student Health nurse triage line at 865-974-5080 to discuss your symptoms and whether you need to be seen by a medical provider.”
