October 3, 2003

Nursing school to administer flu shots

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The Internal Medicine clinic is one of three campus locations of the Adult Primary Care Center, which sees approximately 75,000 visits per year. Dana Johnson

The School of Nursing’s Faculty Practice will offer flu shots and the nasal mist influenza vaccine, FluMist, at area malls starting this weekend.

VUSN’s Flu Vaccine schedule is as follows: Oct. 4: Noon-6 p.m. Cool Springs Galleria Mall; Oct. 12: Noon-6 p.m. Hickory Hollow Mall; Oct. 25: Noon-6 p.m. Rivergate Mall; Nov. 1: Noon-6 p.m. Green Hills Mall; Nov. 2: 1-3 p.m. 100 Oaks Mall.

FluMist will cost $55, flu shots will remain at $15. Because it is a live virus, unlike the traditional flu shot, some people will not be eligible for FluMist.

Children under 5, patients 50 years or older, patients with asthma or other reactive airway diseases, chronic underlying medical conditions, immune suppression or immune deficiency diseases, including patients with AIDS or cancer, people who are being treated with drugs that cause immunosuppression, or patients who are allergic to eggs or to a previous dose of the vaccine are not eligible for the nasal spray vaccine.

Healthy children ages 5-8 can be given FluMist, but will require two doses at least 6 weeks apart. For that reason, the School of Nursing will not offer FluMist at the mall locations to children under the age of 9 .