IN THE COMMUNITY
Free flu vaccines help break barriers. Despite a busy influenza season, getting a flu shot is still not a priority for many people. It is often viewed as a major inconvenience because of transportation issues, no medical home or lack of insurance, even though many pharmacies within drug, retail and grocery stores offer shots. This year, flu activity across South Carolina is widespread and surging a second time, with the season potentially running through late summer. For the past three years, Prisma Health has helped fight the flu by providing free influenza vaccines to Upstate and Midlands communities at various churches, schools and community centers. For this flu season alone, Prisma Health has administered thousands of vaccines to the community. Prisma Health’s flu shot campaign is targeted to all children and adults, but this recent initiative is aimed at children. Some of the highest numbers of children and adults vaccinated included school locations and partnerships with ongoing after-school events and activities. In addition to schools, the faith-based community has played a key role in promoting the importance of the vaccine. Special efforts by the pediatric primary care community in the Upstate has led to offering vaccines to family members at pediatric visits and increasing the number of children vaccinated by almost 10,000 doses.
Good Night Lights brighten holiday spirits. On Dec. 8, more than 250 community members met in front of both Prisma Health Children’s Hospitals to share a holiday message of light and hope by flashing lights outside the windows of pediatric patients (first picture). Patients and families inside the hospital responded by shining flashlights to share a joyful message of their own (second picture). In the Midlands, Good Night Lights participants included first responders and students with USC Dance Marathon. In the Upstate, the Good Night Lights celebration included a drop-in with cookies and milk, plus the annual lighting of the holiday tree.
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