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Vikings Community Tuesdays

Vikings offensive guard Anthony Herrera spends most of his time preventing opposing players from tackling his teammates, but on Tuesday he and several teammates were on a tackling mission to try and neutralize what can be an all-to-common threat to everyone from young children to their grandparents. The Minnesota Vikings, in partnership with the University of Minnesota Department of Pediatrics, are “Tackling Influenza.” With the help of the University, the Vikings are sponsoring three free flu clinics throughout the metro in an effort to protect children and families from seasonal influenza. Herrera, along with teammates Vinny Ciurciu, Brian Daniels, Ray Edwards, Heath Farwell, Charles Gordon, David Herron and John Sullivan, as well as members of the Minnesota Vikings Cheerleaders (MVC) and Viktor the Vikings, were at the Midtown YWCA to kickoff the 2008 version of “Tackling Influenza.” “It’s good thing anytime you can come out and help those who are less fortunate than you,” Herrera said. “A lot of children and families simply aren’t able to afford to go to the doctor’s office and pay for vaccines, so I think it’s important for us to help out and be there for those who are less fortunate.” The community-based health program, which is funded by a three-year, $240,000 grant from the Vikings Children’s Fund (VCF), was launched last year behind the efforts of the University and the VCF when Ben and Abby Leber, along with Vikings Owner/President Mark Wilf and several other members of the organization, visited young patients at the University of Minnesota Department of Pediatrics to a host flu vaccine clinic for families of hospitalized children. The initiative’s funding sponsors the three vaccination clinics as well as other clinics planned at the University of Minnesota Children’s Hospital, Fairview, and Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, with a goal of delivering more than 2,500 flu vaccines this year. “This has really been a dream program to put together, on our part,” Dr. Mark Robien of the University of Minnesota Children’s Hospital, Fairview, said. “In the same way that the Vikings prepare during practice each week for their opponent, we view this event as preparing for the upcoming flu season. This is a chance to protect the whole family, and that is a ‘teamwork’ goal, just like the Vikings have. The Vikings depend on their preparation and luck to succeed; if you don’t take a flu shot, you’re depending a little too much on luck.” Free vaccines are available at all the clinics, regardless of insurance status. A parent or legal guardian must accompany all minors. Children six months and older are eligible to be vaccinated with standard flu shots, and the needle-less vaccination, FluMist®, will also be available for eligible people from age 2 to 50. All vaccines are thimerosal free and no appointment is necessary. “Protecting kids – and protecting parents – with a simple flu shot or spray - is a simple and smart strategy to keep the whole family healthy this winter,” said Robien and University Doctor Patricia Ferrieri.