Thanks to the sponsors and volunteers of Free Flu Shot Saturday, 5,790 East Tennesseans received free flu vaccinations on Nov. 6, and $24,074 was raised for the Knoxville News Sentinel’s Empty Stocking Fund.
Each fall for the past 16 years, free influenza immunizations have been offered to East Tennesseans on Free Flu Shot Saturday, a one-day event with the goal to limit the impact of flu among all age groups and provide those in need the opportunity to be immunized. Free Flu Shot Saturday not only reduces the impact of influenza on the community, it is the biggest annual fundraiser for the Knoxville News Sentinel’s Empty Stocking Fund, a charity providing 3,600 food baskets and toys to the community’s underprivileged during the holiday season.
“We’re very pleased that members of the community continue to take advantage of this important, free health service,” said Deanene Catani, regional marketing director for the News Sentinel. “We’re also grateful for the support this event generates for the Empty Stocking Fund.”
Free flu shots were given at the following six a
rea schools: Austin-East Magnet High School, Carter High School, Farragut High School, Halls High School, West High School and South Doyle Middle School. Farragut High School was the busiest location, giving out a total of 1,667 shots. The leftover vaccine from the event will be donated to local nonprofitThanks to the sponsors and volunteers of Free Flu Shot Saturday, 5,790 East Tennesseans received free flu vaccinations on Nov. 6, and $24,074 was raised for the Knoxville News Sentinel’s Empty Stocking Fund.
Each fall for the past 16 years, free influenza immunizations have been offered to East Tennesseans on Free Flu Shot Saturday, a one-day event with the goal to limit the impact of flu among all age groups and provide those in need the opportunity to be immunized. Free Flu Shot Saturday not only reduces the impact of influenza on the community, it is the biggest annual fundraiser for the Knoxville News Sentinel’s Empty Stocking Fund, a charity providing 3,600 food baskets and toys to the community’s underprivileged during the holiday season.
“We’re very pleased that members of the community continue to take advantage of this important, free health service,” said Deanene Catani, regional marketing director for the News Sentinel. “We’re also grateful for the support this event generates for the Empty Stocking Fund.”
Free flu shots were given at the following six area schools: Austin-East Magnet High School, Carter High School, Farragut High School, Halls High School, West High School and South Doyle Middle School. Farragut High School was the busiest location, giving out a total of 1,667 shots. The leftover vaccine from the event will be donated to local nonprofit organizations that can distribute it to those in need.
The primary sponsor of the News Sentinel Free Flu Shot Saturday is BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Health Foundation, along with donation and aid from Summit Medical Group, Mercy Health Partners and the Knoxville-area Rotary Clubs.
The national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that everyone six months and older should get a flu vaccine each year starting with the 2010-2011 influenza season. Everyone should receive a yearly flu vaccination as early as September or sometime during the influenza season, which includes December, January and beyond. This is because the timing and duration of influenza seasons vary. While influenza outbreaks can happen as early as October, most of the time influenza activity peaks in January or later.
The seasonal flu vaccine protects against three influenza viruses that research indicates will be most common during the upcoming season. The 2010-2011 flu vaccine will protect against 2009 H1N1, and two other influenza viruses (an H3N2 virus and an influenza B virus). The viruses in the vaccine change each year based on international surveillance and scientists’ estimations about which types and strains of viruses will circulate in a given year. About two weeks after vaccination, antibodies that provide protection against influenza virus infection develop in the body.
Since the inception of Free Flu Shot Saturday in 1994, more than 193,000 area residents have been immunized and over $800,000 has been raised for the Empty Stocking Fund.
For more information about Free Flu Shot Saturday or the Empty Stocking Fund, visit http://www.knoxnews.com/charities.
organizations that can distribute it to those in need.
The primary sponsor of the News Sentinel Free Flu Shot Saturday is BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Health Foundation, along with donation and aid from Summit Medical Group, Mercy Health Partners and the Knoxville-area Rotary Clubs.
The national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that everyone six months and older should get a flu vaccine each year starting with the 2010-2011 influenza season. Everyone should receive a yearly flu vaccination as early as September or sometime during the influenza season, which includes December, January and beyond. This is because the timing and duration of influenza seasons vary. While influenza outbreaks can happen as early as October, most of the time influenza activity peaks in January or later.
The seasonal flu vaccine protects against three influenza viruses that research indicates will be most common during the upcoming season. The 2010-2011 flu vaccine will protect against 2009 H1N1, and two other influenza viruses (an H3N2 virus and an influenza B virus). The viruses in the vaccine change each year based on international surveillance and scientists’ estimations about which types and strains of viruses will circulate in a given year. About two weeks after vaccination, antibodies that provide protection against influenza virus infection develop in the body.
Since the inception of Free Flu Shot Saturday in 1994, more than 193,000 area residents have been immunized and over $800,000 has been raised for the Empty Stocking Fund.
For more information about Free Flu Shot Saturday or the Empty Stocking Fund, visit http://www.knoxnews.com/charities.
