September 7, 2016

Volunteers needed for Flulapalooza 6

Volunteers for nonclinical roles, including helping with patient flow, are needed for this year’s Flulapalooza, Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s mass influenza vaccination event. Flulapalooza 6 will be held Tuesday, Oct. 11, in a tent between Light Hall and the Veterans Administration Medical Center.

More than 14,500 people attended last year’s Flulapalooza mass vaccination event on the Vanderbilt University Medical Center campus. This year’s event is slated for Tuesday, Oct. 11. (Vanderbilt University)
More than 14,500 people attended last year’s Flulapalooza mass vaccination event on the Vanderbilt University Medical Center campus. This year’s event is slated for Tuesday, Oct. 11. (Vanderbilt University)

Volunteers for nonclinical roles, including helping with patient flow, are needed for this year’s Flulapalooza, Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s mass influenza vaccination event. Flulapalooza 6 will be held Tuesday, Oct. 11, in a tent between Light Hall and the Veterans Administration Medical Center.

All employees can participate as volunteers. All volunteers should receive prior approval from their supervisor before volunteering for shifts, which are either for two or three hours. The event is being held from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Supervisors and managers should be aware that the volunteer time approved for the event will be compensated from the employee’s department and not through the Flulapalooza event.

Register to be a volunteer.

Last year, more than 14,584 people received free flu shots during the 12-hour event.

The initial purpose of Flulapalooza when it began in 2011 was to test VUMC’s emergency mass vaccination plan as if there really were a public health emergency requiring mass vaccination. The annual Flulapalooza also helps to assure that Vanderbilt protects its faculty, staff, volunteers, students, and thereby its patients, from the flu.