Columbia Health’s commitment to campus health and well-being was spotlighted in a recent Columbia Spectator article covering our annual Flu Fair, held October 28-31 in Lerner Hall’s Roone Arledge Auditorium, with an additional date at the Manhattanville campus on November 7.
The Spectator captured the impact of this important event, noting how our team administered over 1,500 vaccines on the fair’s first day alone—an impressive pace of three shots per minute.
The article highlighted how the coordinated effort that starts months in advance: vaccine pre-orders are placed over six months out to ensure supply and staffing requires careful planning. This year, Columbia Health welcomed back many of the same temporary nurses to assist with this large-scale effort. “This year has been fantastic that we’ve been able to get so many repeats,” noted Marcel Pierre-Louis, Assistant Director, Infection Prevention & Public Health Support.
Michael McNeil, Associate Vice President, Administration & Chief of Staff, emphasized the dual benefits of getting vaccinated, noting that “receiving a flu shot benefits both the individual and the broader community.” Because flu vaccinations can reduce illness severity, even when flu virus strains vary, “it’s absolutely in people’s best interest to get vaccinated,” added Pierre-Louis.
