JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A former Jacksonville Jaguar star is partnering with the Duval County Health Department and Duval County schools to help keep kids healthy.
Former Jags offensive tackle Tony Boselli is the president of Healthy Schools, an organization that's helping supply flu vaccines to Duval County students. They are offering two options, the shot and a nasal mist called FluMist.
According to Boselli, a lot of kids miss school because of sickness. "If we can vaccinate the children - keep them healthy, keep them in school, and keep them from spreading the virus, spreading the flu at home and other places - I think it's good for everybody," Boselli said.
Consent forms have been sent home with Duval county children for the FluMist. The "Teach Flu A Lesson" Clinic is voluntary. Parents also don't have to worry about the cost of the shot or the mist. Insurance companies will be billed for it - and if they don't cover all of the cost, Boselli's company - Healthy Schools, will pick up the bill.
"The benefit for kids or for people who have aversions to needles is you don't have to worry about that," Dr. Rich Westenbarger from UF Health said. "You're not going to have the same pain."