The Medical Reserve Corps provided free flu vaccines at Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport Monday.
Cassie Cochran, the MRC Coordinator for Arkansas says the program makes it easy for travelers to get immunizations but the mobile clinic benefits more than just the people getting a shot.
"We're training if we ever had to vaccinate the entire population with the strategic national stockpile," Cochran says.
The MRC organizes groups of local volunteers so they can quickly respond to disasters, and the free flu shots are part of a statewide pilot program to help volunteers prepare for a pandemic. The program is focusing on transient populations, including homeless shelters, bus stations and airports.
The program includes six more stops in Arkansas, so the different units scattered across the state also get a chance to practice.
"We not only do vaccination clinics but we do community projects in disasters, and public health education, health fairs, things like that," she says.
Cochran says volunteers don't need to be doctors or nurses, to find out how you can help out, contact administrator Loy Bailey at the Benton County Health Department at (479) 986-1300.
Cassie Cochran, the MRC Coordinator for Arkansas says the program makes it easy for travelers to get immunizations but the mobile clinic benefits more than just the people getting a shot.
"We're training if we ever had to vaccinate the entire population with the strategic national stockpile," Cochran says.
The MRC organizes groups of local volunteers so they can quickly respond to disasters, and the free flu shots are part of a statewide pilot program to help volunteers prepare for a pandemic. The program is focusing on transient populations, including homeless shelters, bus stations and airports.
The program includes six more stops in Arkansas, so the different units scattered across the state also get a chance to practice.
"We not only do vaccination clinics but we do community projects in disasters, and public health education, health fairs, things like that," she says.
Cochran says volunteers don't need to be doctors or nurses, to find out how you can help out, contact administrator Loy Bailey at the Benton County Health Department at (479) 986-1300.
