Flulapalooza is back, live and in person, on Sept. 22

Flulapalooza will be held on Sept. 22, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. in an outdoor tent between Light Hall and the Veterans Administration (VA) Hospital.

Each year the Flulapalooza planning committee works to create a festival-like tone to make the event both efficient and fun for all involved. Since Flulapalooza was canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic, event organizers are looking forward to catching up on two years of fun and exceeding last year’s 22,000 vaccinations with the return of this VUMC tradition.

The event will offer three vaccine choices: high-dose, recommended for those age 65 and older, egg-free for those with egg allergies, and standard.

“Doing everything you can to stay healthy and safe continues to be a top priority as we head into the fall,” said Lori Rolando, MD, MPH, director of the Vanderbilt Occupational Health Clinic (OHC). 

“We’re looking forward to bringing the VUMC community back together again. This is an opportunity to allow members of the community to protect themselves and make a difference in helping to protect others.”

Volunteers are always needed as vaccinators, vaccinator helpers, documenters, and patient greeters to help make Flulapalooza such a success. Sign-up requires prior approval and is for two-hour shifts. FAQs about volunteering can be found at https://www.vumc.org/health-wellness/event-staff-signup.    

Flulapalooza activities will also be happening at Vanderbilt Wilson County Hospital, Vanderbilt Bedford Hospital, and Vanderbilt Tullahoma-Harton Hospital. More details for those locations will be announced later.

Flu vaccination is a requirement for all Medical Center employees. All current employees must be compliant or receive an exemption by Dec. 1, 2021.

Employees requesting exemption for the flu vaccine can apply with the following form: https://machform.app.vumc.org/view.php?id=455097

If employees receive their flu vaccine outside of OHC they can submit documentation through https://www.vumc.org/health-wellness/how-can-i-report-vaccine-i-received-outside-ohc.

Additional tips to help Flulapalooza to run smoothly and safely include:

o          Face masks must be worn during the entire event.

o          Bring your VUMC ID badge.

o          Wear short sleeves or have sleeves rolled up.

o          Send staff in shifts.

o          No food and drink are allowed in the tent.