September 18, 2009

Seasonal flu shots available

Seasonal flu shots available

Flu shots from the Occupational Health Clinic for seasonal flu will be available for staff, faculty and medical students in the tent on the plaza in front of the Eskind Biomedical Library weekdays from Sept. 21 through Oct. 2, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., said Stacey Kendrick, coordinator of health promotion.

Everyone coming to get a shot should have his or her ID badge.

This shot is for the seasonal flu. While a vaccine for the H1N1 swine flu is not available yet, shots for that strain will also be provided when it’s possible to do so, officials say.

“It is vital for those of us who work at a health care institution to do everything we can do to protect our patients, and getting flu shots is part of that,” said Melanie Swift, M.D., medical director of the Occupational Health Clinic.

In addition to the flu tent, other locations in upcoming weeks include:

• One Hundred Oaks conference room 26103, Thursdays, Sept. 24, Oct. 1 and Oct. 8, from 8 to 11:30 a.m.

• Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital: room 8009, Thursday, Oct. 1, from 1 to 4:15 p.m.; second floor entryway, Monday, Oct. 5, Thursday, Oct. 8, and Friday, Oct. 9, from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

• School of Nursing, Godchaux Hall Living Room, Tuesday, Oct. 6, from 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

There are numerous other vaccine locations scheduled in all areas of Vanderbilt, including Williamson County medical practices, West End locations and Child Care Centers. For a complete listing, go to www.occupationalhealth.vanderbilt.edu or, for daily updates, follow Occupational Health on Twitter at http://twitter.com/vandyocchealth.

At that same site visitors will find the Occupational Health Flu Tool, which asks five simple questions regarding possible flu symptoms, then gives step-by-step guidance about being at work and seeking medical care.