OMAHA, Neb., April 7, 2009 – The Visiting Nurse Association of America and Novartis Vaccines has selected the Visiting Nurse Association of Omaha/Council Bluffs as one of five VNAs to participate in the pilot program for a college/university-based influenza immunization initiative. The program is designed to educate and motivate this student population within each pilot community to become vaccinated against the flu.

Influenza is a serious health concern in the United States, especially for students in college. As many as 20 percent of students succumb to the influenza virus each year. The influenza vaccine significantly reduces student illness, doctor visits, impaired school performance and missed class/work days. In fact, vaccinations prevent one day of illness for every two people immunized. Unfortunately, there are historically low vaccination rates (20 – 25%) for the university aged person. The goal of this campaign is get the collegiate communities vaccinated to keep them in class, maintain staff and faculty productivity and help protect their friends and family. The program will educate students about the consequences of influenza and provide convenient access to influenza vaccinations.

The Omaha /Council Bluffs VNA was chosen based on the success of its yearly flu campaign, where they vaccinate over 15,000 individuals through corporate, school and public flu clinics. Along with the Omaha/Council Bluffs community, the VNAs of Washington, D.C., Boston, Mass., Danbury, Conn. and Minneapolis, Minn. were also selected. The VNA is reaching out to area colleges and universities to partner in the pilot program this spring, and plans on conducting the flu clinics in the fall of 2009.

On average, each year more than 200,000 people are hospitalized from influenza complications and 36,000 U.S. residents die according to the Centers for Disease Control. Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is a serious viral illness that is contagious from the day before the symptoms begin until five days after they start. The most common complaints are fever, sore throat, cough, runny nose, headache, muscle aches and fatigue.
The VNA offers two types of vaccinations given by registered nurses: flu shots and FluMist, a nasal-spray vaccine. Flu shots are offered at all clinic locations for $25, and FluMist is available at “Boo to the Flu” clinics that are designed for anyone ages 6 months or older for $30. Both the flu shot and FluMist will be available at the university flu clinics.

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