Across the state, UTHSC student pharmacists are working as a team to increase public awareness about vaccinations and the pharmacist’s role. To date, student pharmacists in have immunized over 5,935 members of the community, and the public health and awareness initiative is showing no signs of slowing down.
Boo Flu
Each year, UTHSC student pharmacists partner with UTHSC Health Services to provide influenza immunizations to everyone across the UTHSC campus. Students from all colleges, faculty, staff and retirees flocked to the 910 Madison building lobby on October 5, where student pharmacists delivered both the traditional quadravalent flu shot as well as the needleless trivalent PharmaJet injections. At the end of the day, 1,900 vaccines were administered.
Student Pharmacists have participated in many other events in pharmacies and community health fairs across the city of Memphis. Overall the College of Pharmacy has vaccinated over 2,000 people at these events, and additional events are planned.
Fluapalooza and More
On Saturday, October 7, UTHSC student pharmacists volunteered as immunizers for the Vanderbilt Flulapalooza. Flulapalooza is a massive flu vaccination clinic held for the students, staff and volunteers of Vanderbilt University. The event was held from 6 am to 6 pm, and in the 12 hour time period 14,498 flu shots were given. This is over 1,000 more vaccines given than last year! Of these 12 hours, a 2 and 1/2 hour shift was staffed by student pharmacists, in which 1,680 vaccinations were administered to the public.
Flu Shots for UTMC
Each year from the end of September through the month of October, the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville holds multiple flu clinics for their employees. This year was not an exception. Several shifts of these clinics are staffed by UTHSC student pharmacists as immunizers for the staff and other students. During the pharmacy student shifts, hundreds of flu vaccines were administered. In addition, many flu shot clinics are being held in local pharmacies in the area.