In addition to being the University of Tennessee’s homecoming weekend ………..

 university of tennessee football stadium knoxville

…..it’s also time for Knoxville annual “Flu Shot Saturday”.

Started in 1992 by local physician Dr. Charlie Barnett, Flu Shot Saturday has become an annual tradition in the Knoxville area for thousands of local residents to get a free flu shot.

While the shots are technically ‘free’, donations to the Knoxville News-Sentinel’s Empty Stocking Fund which provides food and Christmas toys to thousands of Knoxville families who might otherwise have an unhappy holiday are encouraged and most flu shot recipients drop a generous donation into the box.

BlueCross BlueShield insurance of Tennessee partially funds the event and local Rotary clubs also help support the event.

Doctor Barnett and his group enlist the help of fellow Knoxville medical professionals to actually administer the vaccine at 5 Knoxville area high schools.

If you missed flu shot saturday there’s still lots of local clinics and drug stores adminstering the vaccine.

Better to endure a little pin prick from the shot than to suffer through 2 to 3 weeks of flu this winter.