In 2014, Tony Boselli, the former Jacksonville Jaguars offensive lineman who has been a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame the last two years, decided to launch a company called Healthy Schools.

“It’s a program we started to create better access for preventative care,” Boselli said.

He had become aware of the major impact a sick child can have on working class families, forcing parents to say home from work to be with the sick child and infecting parents and siblings.

One of the things Healthy Schools does is administer free in-school vaccinations including flu shots each October to students at school in Duval, Clay and Sumter counties.

This fall participation was low, Boselli said.

So Healthy School, which has partnership with the health departments and school systems in the three counties where it operates, is going to return to some schools next week to offer another round of free flu shots.

“Obviously this year, with the flu pandemic or whatever they are calling it, the flu has become a big concern,” Boselli said.

The Centers for Disease Control and local school officials are recommending that all school age children get flu shots if they haven’t already gotten them. This year’s predominant flu virus, H3N3, is unusually deadly.

Boselli said he plans to be at Orange Park High School, 300 Kingsley Ave., Orange Park, on Monday where shots will be given from 3 to 6 p.m.; and at Mandarin High School, 4831 Greenland Road, on Tuesday, where shots will be given from 3 to 6 p.m.

Parents or guardians in Duval and Clay counties can sign up online to receive a vaccination at the Healthy Schools community clinics by going to schoolflushot.com/clay or schoolflushot.com/duval, or can sign up at the clinics themselves.

Other locations in Duval and Clay counties where shots will be given next week are:

• First Coast High School, 590 Duval Station Road, Jacksonville, from 3 to 6 p.m. Tuesday.

• Westside High School, 5530 Firestone Road, Jacksonville, from 3 to 6 p.m. Thursday.

• Fletcher High School, 700 Seagate Ave., Neptune Beach, from 3 to 6 p.m. Thursday.

• Keystone Heights High School, 900 Orchid Ave., Keystone Heights, from 3 to 6 p.m. Thursday.

• The Florida Department of Health in Clay County, 1345 Idlewild Ave, Green Cove Springs, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.



Charlie Patton: (904) 359-4413