Anchor: In local news, flu season is quickly approaching. As N-C-C’s Daniel Loftus reports, Upstate Medical University has a new approach to get people vaccinated.
Daniel Loftus: Upstate Medical University is trying to vaccinate as many of its employees and students as it can. This year, the University has created what they call flu crews, or groups of volunteers to offer flu vaccinations on weekends and evening hours. Director of Employee and Student Health at Upstate Doctor Jarrod Bagatell says this will be an all new convenience for University employees.
Dr. Jarrod Bagatell: Instead of, you know, people coming to us, so to speak, we’re going to bring it to them.
Loftus: As part of their efforts to vaccinate last year, 85 percent of University students and staff were vaccinated — an eight percent increase from the year before. Now with the flu crews and other efforts, Bagatell has his eyes set on 90 percent, a number he once thought wasn’t reachable.
Dr. Bagatell: It’s possible. It’s possible, I didn’t think it was when I took on this job almost two years ago in December, I didn’t think it was possible.”>
Loftus: There were already 15-hundred more people vaccinated in the first week this year than last year. Daniel Loftus, N-C-C News.
By Daniel Loftus SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) —Upstate Medical University will approach the upcoming flu season by implementing new techniques to reach a record high in vaccinated employees.
The first new addition to flu vaccination efforts this year arewhat Upstate Medical is calling ‘flu crews,’ or mobile carts run by volunteers to reach different offices at Upstate Medical University and provide flu vaccinations.
“Instead of , you know, people coming to us, so to speak, we’re going to bring it to them,” said Dr. Jarrod Bagatell, Director of Employee and Student Health at Upstate Medical University.
These flu carts offer flu shots on weekends and in evening hours and are available to people so they do not have to leave their places of work to get the vaccine.
In addition to easier access to the flu vaccine, technology improvements are also part of this year’s push at Upstate for more to be vaccinated. Upstate began using iPads to scan employee and student identification cards, let them fill out consent forms, and it all is saved within their system
“It helped moved the flow of our clinics quite smoothly,” said Dr. Bagatell. “So not only are we better able to provide the vaccines to our many employees and students, we’re also getting better at collecting the data in real time.”
Dr. Bagatell said the electronic health forms were implemented last year and improved upon this year. Increased awareness efforts, like a music video put together by the flu crew, are also a part of this years increases vaccination efforts.
Last year was a record for Upstate in terms of people immunized. 85% was the percentage of people last year, up from 77% two years ago. The requirement of Upstate Medical University students was an initiative added at Upstate last year to raise the number of students immunized. According to Dr. Bagatell, the number he would like to be reached this year is 90%.
“It’s possible,” said Dr. Bagatell. “I didn’t think it was when I took on this job almost two years ago in December, I didn’t think it was possible.”
Bagatell estimated that about 1,500 more people at Upstate Medical were vaccinated in the first week of their vaccination efforts this year as compared to their record year last flu season.
Feeling so bad didn’t prep for this
All around the world could be dangerous
Everybody coughing, it’s infectious
Yes it is serious
Everybody waiting for the fall to come
Everybody praying for the end of signs
Everybody hoping they can beat H1
There was bad N1 wasn’t born for this
Hit me like a truck (truck)
Pull me out a tissue break me down and beat me up
just wanna get some sleep (sleep)
Never hear a peep peep always wanna weep (weep)
break me down and beat me up
I’ll vaccinate
’cause I want to keep the flu out of my face
I’ll do whatever it takes
’cause I want to keep that virus in its place
I’ll vaccinate
Gotta protect me and my family
I’ll vaccinate
’cause I want to keep the flu out of my face
I’ll do whatever it takes
Always had a fear of being needle stuck
Looking at my body feeling miserable
Always hanging onto the visual
I thought I was invincible
Looking at my tears like a martyrdom
Everybody, make sure to get one
This is far from fun I want to be done
Hit me like a truck (truck)
Pull me out a tissue
Break me down and beat me up
Just wanna get some sleep (sleep)
Never hear a peep peep always wanna weep (weep)
break me down and beat me up
I’ll vaccinate
’cause I want to keep the flu out of my face
I’ll do whatever it takes
’cause I want to keep that virus in its place
I’ll vaccinate
Gotta protect me and my family
I’ll vaccinate
’cause I want to keep the flu out of my face
I’ll do whatever it takes
It is critical it is practical
Don’t wanna be hyperbolical it’s statistical
Vaccines are something to be proud of, given the cost
of infections ’round the world with a purpose not lost
Benefit you and me
It’s developed to protect you and your family
Another way we can prevent a big catastrophe
Another masterpiece, meant to prevent disease
It can prevent disease
Get to a vaccine clinic or a pharmacy
and just roll up your sleeve because it’ll be so easy
I’ll do what it takes
I’ll vaccinate
’cause I want to keep the flu out of my face
I’ll do whatever it takes
’cause I want to keep that virus in its place
I’ll vaccinate
Gotta protect my colleagues and my family
I’ll vaccinate
’cause I want to keep the flu out of my face
I’ll do whatever it takes
