Lipscomb's College of Pharmacy helps fights flu season by providing flu shot clinics this fall
Lacey Klotz |
The Lipscomb University College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences is offering several opportunities for the community to receive flu shots this fall, one with a convenient drive-up format allowing patients to get their shots without ever leaving their cars.
On Saturday, Oct. 3, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., members of the American Pharmacists Association’s Academy of Student Pharmacists will offer a convenient drive-up clinic to provide this year’s flu vaccine. The clinic will be located on University Park Drive outside of the Burton Health Sciences Center (access is from Belmont Boulevard) and will be open to the public.
The cost is $20 for the Quadrivalent flu shot, $5 less than many other providers. Immunizations can be provided for children as young as four years old. Lipscomb also offers the Preservative-free flu shot for patients who are pregnant or allergic to the Thimerosal for $30, and the High-Dose shot (over age 65) for $35. In addition to these vaccinations, the Flumist nasal spray will also be available for $30 as well as the egg-free flu shot for $35.
“The drive-up clinic gives a great alternative option for the elderly who have trouble walking and families with small children, because you can get your vaccine without ever leaving your car,” said Sarah Uroza, assistant professor of pharmacy practice and sponsor of the student pharmacist academy at Lipscomb.
During the clinic, there will also be a car wash fundraiser to help the College of Pharmacy raise $5,000 for its American Pharmacists Association’s Academy of Student Pharmacists mid-year regional meeting that they are co-sponsoring with Belmont. The meeting is Oct. 16-18 and will host nearly 750 pharmacy students from the South East in Nashville for the weekend.
Student pharmacists will also provide free blood pressure checks and blood glucose screenings on-site, to those who would like to get out and walk around during the 15-minute waiting period after the immunization is administered.
In addition to these specialized clinics, there will be several opportunities for students, faculty, staff and spouses to come and get a flu shot this fall.
New this year, Lipscomb’s human resources office is offering flu vaccines for free to all full-time faculty, staff and their spouses as a part of their health benefit package.
“We value our team members at Lipscomb and are always looking for ways to provide additional helpful benefits when we can,” said Stan Lowry, director of human resources. “Through a collaborative effort of the College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences and the Department of Human Resources, we’re excited to be able to provide the free flu-shots this year to make sure our full-time employees are adequately covered this flu season.”
There are two exclusive opportunities for these full-time employees and their spouses to receive their vaccinations including Oct. 2, at the faculty/staff picnic from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. and Oct. 8 immediately following the faculty/staff chapel outside of Ward Hall.
“We are excited to be able to offer our vaccinations for free to our full-time employees,” said Urosa. “So many more people are going to have an opportunity to get flu shots and we are confident that campus will be a healthier place because of it.”
Over 6,000 vaccinations were given last year alone and nearly 200 Lipscomb student pharmacists will be involved in the flu shot clinics this year. All Lipscomb student pharmacists are certified to give vaccines and many already worked in retail pharmacies and have administered flu vaccines at on-campus clinics for the past five years.
Lipscomb’s nursing students will also provide vaccinations in select clinics including the Oct. 20 clinic in the Hall of Fame room and Nov. 3 clinic.
The Lipscomb University College of Pharmacy is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) and prepares student pharmacists for work in community pharmacy, hospitals, specialty health care facilities and mental health facilities.
Other community dates include:
Oct. 20 – Flu shot clinic in the Hall of Fame room from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Oct. 20 – Flu shot clinic in the Bennett Campus Center from noon to 2 p.m.
Oct. 28 – Flu shot clinic in the Bennett Campus Center from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Nov. 3 – Flu shot clinic in the Bennett Campus Center from noon to 2 p.m.