Students to Help Administer Flu Vaccines in Lycoming County

Students enrolled in the School of Health Sciences at Pennsylvania College of Technology will partner with state and local organizations to administer free flu shots throughout Lycoming County in November.

Nursing, paramedic and physician assistant students will administer flu and pneumococcal vaccine and will distribute educational materials regarding the immunizations at seven sites. The students will be supervised by Penn College faculty and a Pennsylvania Department of Health nurse.

"The flu clinic provides our students with an excellent opportunity to be a presence in a community health/service learning project," said Sharon Waters, dean of health sciences at Penn College. "Students work with a team of fellow students, as well as other community health agency representatives, including the Lycoming County Health Improvement Coalition, to provide this important outreach service to residents in rural areas within Lycoming County. Penn College faculty and clinical staff provide oversight to our students while on location, making for a great "˜giving back to the community' experience, of which we are very pleased to be a participant."

The program is accomplished through a partnership with, in addition to the Lycoming County Health Improvement Coalition, the state Department of Health, Susquehanna Health, Penn College, and local fire departments and community centers.

In addition to providing student volunteers to staff the clinics, Penn College provided printed materials that are given to the fire companies to help promote the events. Susquehanna Health provides a mobile health van for the effort.

The flu clinics will be held at:

• Hughesville Fire Department, 8:30-10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 28
• Keystone Hook and Ladder Co. (Muncy), 12:30-2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 28
• Montgomery Volunteer Fire Co., 3:30-5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 28
• Waterville Volunteer Fire Department, 9-10 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 29
• Wheeland Center (Jersey Shore sponsored by Citizen Hose Co. and Independent Hose Co.), 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 29
• Hepburn Township Volunteer Fire Co., 3-5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 29
• The Campbell Street Center, 9 a.m.-noon Friday, Nov. 30

The vaccines are given on a walk-in basis and are supplied by the state Department of Health's Division of Immunization through funds from State Health Improvement Plan partners. According to the Lycoming County Health Improvement Coalition, 2,400 flu shots have been dispensed during the flu clinics in five years.

For more information about the School of Health Sciences at Penn College, visit online , e-mail or call (570) 327-4519.