University students in Nova Scotia won't be getting a mumps shot with their beer.

Minister of Health Promotion and Protection Barry Barnet is quashing the suggestion by an infectious disease expert who says the province needs a creative way to get more young adults to update their vaccines.

"There's not going to be a trade-off, a shot for a shot," Barnet said Wednesday. "We're not going to give inoculations in bars."

Nova Scotia continues to grapple with a stubborn outbreak of the mumps. More than 450 people have been infected since the outbreak began in February, and as out-of-province students travelled home, some carried the disease with them.

Mumps causes swollen and tender glands and other flu-like symptoms, but in rare cases can also lead to sterility, deafness and viral meningitis. It's spread by coughing, sneezing, sharing drinks and food, and kissing.

People born between 1970 and 1992 are at particular risk. They were immunized against measles, mumps and rubella once, but may need a second dose of mumps vaccine.

But since the group most at risk — university-age adults — is notoriously difficult to reach with public health campaigns, one expert says health officials have to be creative and go where these adults gather.

Dr. Noni MacDonald, an infectious disease expert and former dean of medicine at Dalhousie University, suggested to CBC News earlier this week that vaccines could be offered in bars or nightclubs.

But half-price beer with a mumps shot sends the wrong message, Barnet said.

"What we're going to do is look at ways we can encourage them without persuading them with alcohol to get the shot. It's for their best interests to have these shots and we'll give them the evidence it's the right thing to do," he said.

Returning university students and those in Grade 12 are the target of a booster campaign this fall. But Barnet said there is no plan at the moment to vaccinate young adults who are not in school.