In an effort to get out ahead of the flu this year and protect more vulnerable populations, one hospital has come up with an ingenious way of getting more people to be vaccinated. Springfield General Hospital will begin to leave needles full of the flu vaccine in areas of the city know to have high rates of drug use and homelessness
“We don’t get very many homeless or intravenous drug users into the clinics to get their annual flu shot,” said Dr. Mike Norton. “It’s a real shame because they are some of our most vulnerable populations.”
The program entitled “Street Jabs”, is the first program to target the underprivileged, homeless and intravenous drug users in the city’s history.
“The idea is simple,” explains Norton. “We simply leave syringes filled with this year’s flu vaccine around on the streets. Drug users will pick them up and think ‘hey free drugs’ and then bam. One more person vaccinated.”
While some people are against the idea of randomly leaving needles around the city, most are in favor of the program.
-The Spudd
