Director Butterfield of the Rutherford County Health Department told the Health and Education Committee on Sept. 23 that the department will offer free influenza vaccinations on Oct. 21 as part of the statewide “Fight Flu TN” campaign, with clinics at the Smyrna and Murfreesboro health department locations. Butterfield said the Murfreesboro clinic will include a coat giveaway using leftover lost‑and‑found items coordinated with local schools.

The announcement came with two operational updates: the county health department has scheduled an HVAC renovation project for bid and the bid opening will occur Oct. 16 during the county planning meeting, Butterfield said. The health department building is a county property, and property management will oversee the renovation, the committee was told.

Committee members asked about local COVID‑19 tracking and testing. Commissioner Osterholm asked whether the county was tracking COVID because local cases appear to be rising and whether free testing remains available. Butterfield said the county is no longer conducting local COVID case tracking — that remains at the state level — and that the health department does not have COVID test kits for general distribution, though testing may still be available for symptomatic patients who present to the department.

Committee members moved to approve acceptance of the department’s report; the motion carried.

Background and context: Butterfield said the Fight Flu TN event has been run at the Murfreesboro site for two prior years with strong turnout. The committee noted the renovation has been “in talks for a couple of years” and expressed support for the project moving to bid. The committee also asked property management representative Adam Dodd to be available to discuss facility details, per meeting remarks.

Logistics: the flu clinics will run Oct. 21 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Butterfield said. The HVAC bid opening is scheduled Oct. 16 (planning meeting).