Pharmacy students to offer free seasonal flu shots in Wichita Sept. 26
LAWRENCE — The University of Kansas School of Pharmacy is teaming up with the United Way of the Plains to provide flu vaccines to those in need Saturday, Sept. 26, at the Guadalupe Clinic, GraceMed, the South Lord’s Diner and HealthCore Clinic in Wichita.
The United Way of the Plains provided the funds to purchase 1,500 doses of the influenza vaccine, which members of KU’s Academy of Student Pharmacists will administer under the supervision of certified pharmacists. The vaccinations will be given at no cost from 9 a.m. to 1 pm. at the Guadalupe Clinic, 940 S. Francis St.; GraceMed, 1122 North Topeka St.; the South Lord’s Diner, 2825 South Hillside, and HealthCore Clinic, 2707 E. 21st St. N. The vaccines will be provided first-come, first-served to eligible patients while supplies last. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
This marks the seventh year the United Way of the Plains has sponsored the event.
“Making these vaccines available to more people will help protect the overall health of our community,” said Patrick J. Hanrahan, president of United Way of the Plains. “We’re proud to continue our partnership with the KU School of Pharmacy and help eliminate needless suffering this flu season.”
School of Pharmacy Dean Ken Audus said the annual flu vaccine clinic serves a dual purpose.
“Operation Immunization provides a much-needed service to the community,” Audus said. “But these events also serve to remind students that the practice of pharmacy is about more than just what they learn in the classroom. It’s also about patient interaction, care and promoting preventative health behaviors.”
Robert Emerson, associate dean of the Wichita campus, said students from both the Lawrence and Wichita campuses will participate in Saturday’s event.
“Service to the community is something we expect of every student in our program,” Emerson said. “Whether the event is in Wichita, Lawrence or anywhere in the state, all of our students share in those responsibilities.”
The event, in collaboration with the Wichita Academy of Pharmacists, the Guadalupe Clinic, GraceMed, The Lord’s Diner, HealthCore Clinic, the KU School of Medicine-Wichita JayDoc Community Clinic and the Wichita State University School of Nursing, is aimed at people who are unemployed, uninsured or unable to pay.
Additional support for the immunization clinic is provided by Dandurand Drugstore, Dillons, Walgreens and Walmart.
Flu shot photo courtesy Master Sgt. Carlotta Holley, via WikiCommons.