On Oct. 9, students, faculty and staff will be able to get a flu shot for $25 in the Student Health Center.
The flu shot availability is part of an annual event held not only for flu shots to be given out to the UT community, but also to allow students enrolled in the College of Nursing to get clinical training.
The College of Nursing supplies the staff for the flu shot event. Junior-level students will be working at the UT flu shot event and also at “Flu Shot Saturday,” which will take place at the end of October.
Karen Lasater, clinical instructor in nursing, explained that working at UT’s flu distribution and “Flu Shot Saturday” are part of the Nursing 311 curriculum. She said that all of the nurses are well-trained and ready to give out vaccines.
“They are fully prepared to do it,” said Lasater. “They’ve already given shots, so this is just one more way to give back to the community, as well as to reinforce the skills they’ve already learned.”
Lasater also said that in addition to the more than the 100 nursing students helping at the UT flu shot event and “Flu Shot Saturday,” there will also be multiple clinical instructors available at both events.
“The way the College of Nursing works … we have a 1 to 8 ratio when students are in the clinical setting,” Lasater explained. “So for every eight students that are at ‘Flu Shot Day,’ there will be one clinical instructor watching over them.”
While the event is geared toward UT’s students, faculty and staff, Lasater said that no one will be turned away from receiving the flu shot. She did encourage those who are not a part of the UT community to attend the upcoming “Flu Shot Saturday.”
“We wouldn’t turn anyone down, of course,” Lasater said. “But with ‘Flu Shot Saturday’ being at several different local high schools and elementary schools … we really want the general public to go to these locations because obviously crowding the campus area might be a little hectic if we had all of Knox County coming in.”
Lasater also said that they would prefer not to give the flu shot to children because most children can obtain a flu shot through their elementary schools.
In the past, flu shots were administered in the UC. This year, however, the shots will be given in the Student Health Center.
Phyllis Ryan, medical administrative assistant at the Student Health Center, explained this year’s new location.
“Because of the construction at the University Center,” Ryan said, “it would be better to do it at the Student Health Center.”
All proceeds from the shots will go to the News Sentinel’s “Empty Stocking” fund. The charity provides food and toys to the disadvantaged in East Tennessee. This is the 100th anniversary of the charity.
The shots will be given out from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and will cost $25 with a UT ID. Cash, check and credit card are all accepted.
Lasater encouraged everyone to get the flu shot, saying that it is one of the best methods to stop the spread of the flu.
“We want everybody to get the flu shot,” Lasater said. “We really just want to help stop spreading the flu around and immunization is the best way to do that.
“And wash your hands!” she added with a laugh
