Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) is gearing up for its seventh annual Flulapalooza mass influenza vaccination event, set for Wednesday, Sept. 27, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. in the area between Light Hall and the Veteran’s Administration Hospital.
Although this year’s event is a few weeks earlier than in the past, the timing could not be more appropriate, said Lori Rolando, M.D., MPH, director of the Vanderbilt Occupational Health Clinic (OHC).
“The CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) recommends that people get vaccinated before influenza starts to become active in the community,” she said. “It takes a couple of weeks for a person to develop immunity. You really don’t want to wait too long to get vaccinated and risk not being protected when the flu starts.”
Flu season in the United States can begin as early as October and last until May, according to the CDC, which recommends that everyone at least 6 months old should be vaccinated to protect themselves and those around them from the flu.
“One of the most important things any of us can do to prevent the flu and keep everyone healthy is to get a flu shot. It’s really just that simple. The more people who are vaccinated against the flu, the less it spreads,” Rolando said.
Remember, only employees, volunteers and students from the Medical Center and Vanderbilt University are eligible to participate in Flulapalooza, but everyone is encouraged to get vaccinated.
Several options are available for the VUMC community not able to attend the 12-hour Flulapalooza event, including receiving a flu shot at the OHC’s sixth floor location in the Medical Arts Building as well as at upcoming mobile vaccination events.
To see a list of mobile vaccination events, view OHC’s searchable flu calendar at https://healthandwellness.vanderbilt.edu/occupational-health/flu/index.php.
For additional opportunities for flu vaccinations, review the OHC Comes to You schedule at: https://healthandwellness.vanderbilt.edu/news/2011/09/ohc-comes-to-you/.
