The Vine Hill Community Clinic, operated by the Vanderbilt University School of Nursing’s University Community Health Services, is offering flu shots and FluMist to the general public starting Oct. 24.
Each year, 5 to 20 percent of the population gets the flu. Throughout the United States, 200,000 people are hospitalized and 36,000 die from the flu or its complications.
“The Vanderbilt School of Nursing, University Community Health Services, and Vine Hill Community Clinic want to reach out to the Nashville community to get as many people vaccinated as possible. It’s the best way to protect yourself and those around you from the flu and flu complications” said Terri Crutcher, M.S.N., R.N., Clinical Director of the Primary Care Faculty Practice.
The Centers for Disease Control recommends the flu vaccine for people 65 years and older, people of any age with chronic lung, heart or respiratory problems, children 6 months to 23 months of age, pregnant women, and health care personnel who provide direct patient care. Starting on Oct. 24, flu vaccine is available to the general public.
FluMist is an inhaled flu vaccine that works much like a nasal spray and is a good option for healthy people ages 5 to 49.
Flu shots cost $15 and the nasal spray flu vaccine costs $25. Patients can pay by cash, check, credit card or insurance.
The Vine Hill Community Clinic serves residents of Davidson County and is located at 601 Benton Ave. near the State Fairgrounds. The nurse-managed facility is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday; Saturdays, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sundays, from noon to 6 p.m. The weekday care requires an appointment by calling 292-9770. Weekend care is on a walk-in basis, so no appointment is necessary.