Flu-Shot Clinic to Start Vaccination Season
Vaccine is plentiful, widely available
By Brandy Nance
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
It’s time to think about flu shots, and local officials say the community has the best supply of vaccine it’s had in years.
Flu shots will be offered around town in doctor’s offices, at Newman Regional Health and at special vaccination clinics. A mass vaccination clinic by the Lyon County Health Department will be held in the Anderson Building at the Lyon County Fairgrounds from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday.
Renee Hively of the Health Department said this year’s supply of vaccine is excellent. For the past few years, the U.S. vaccination program has been troubled by vaccine shortages and production delays.
“We’re sitting better than we’ve ever sat in the last five years,” Hively said. “That’s been the word that I’ve heard clear across the board.”
This year the Lyon County Health Department is using a catchy phrase to remind people to get flu shots — “Red, White and Blue, the Lyon County Health Department Reminds You to ‘Protect Our Community from the Flu.’”
The health department’s drive to protect the community from influenza will begin with Thursday’s mass vaccination.
“I think we should have a really good turnout,” Hively said.
The clinic will not only allow community residents to get their flu shots for $15 but also will serve as a training exercise for staff and volunteers who will learn how to vaccinate large numbers of people in a short time. Those skills could come in hand in the event of a natural disease outbreak or bioterrorism emergency.
“The health department is encouraging anyone who has not yet had this year’s flu shot to come to the exercise and be vaccinated,” said Renee Hively, of the health department. “The cost of the flu shots at the Health Department are $20. Persons who receive Medicare or Medicaid benefits should bring their insurance card and present them to Health Department staff.”
Other than Medicare or Medicaid, only cash will be accepted at Thursday’s clinic.
For more information about the mass vaccination clinic, contact the Health Department at 342-4864, Ext. 220.
If you miss Thursday’s clinic there will be more opportunities to be vaccinated against the flu.
Newman Regional Health will hold its annual drive-through flu clinic from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Oct. 16. The shots will be $20. Only cash will be accepted with the exception of Medicaid or Medicare Part B. Shots will be given in the south parking lot and people are asked to drive up from Elm Street to help control traffic.
A walk-in vaccination clinic will be held from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 25 in the Newman Regional Health North Lobby off the 12th Avenue entrance (entrance C).
Newman Regional Health will also send staff members to senior centers and other places in the county to conduct vaccination clinics. The schedule for those visits is as follows:
- Neosho Rapids Senior Center, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Oct. 15.
- Hartford Senior Center, 10 a.m. to noon, Oct. 15.
- Stanton Heights, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Oct. 18.
- Emporia Senior Center, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Oct. 25.
- Americus Senior Center, 10 a.m. to noon, Nov. 2.
- Reading School, 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., Nov. 2.
- North Lyon County Senior Center, 9:30 a.m. to noon, Nov. 9.
Walgreen’s, 1502 Industrial Road, will offer flu shots from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Friday. Flu shots will cost $30. Insurance will be accepted.
The Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy locations, 2715 Candlewood Drive and 1509 W. 12th Ave., will do flu shots by appointment. Call the Candlewood store at 342-1661 or the 12th Avenue store at 342-1242 for more information and appointments.
Internal Medicine Associates, 1301 W. 12th Ave., will offer flu shots to their patients starting on Nov. 1. Insurance will be accepted.
The Medical Arts Clinic, 1301 W. 12th Ave., will begin offering vaccinations the middle of next week. The clinic also will have two clinics for patients from 9 a.m. to noon on Oct. 30 and 1 to 4 p.m. on Nov. 2. Both will be held in the clinic’s first-floor suite. Patients do not need to make an appointment. Insurance will be accepted. Medicaid patients under the age of 18 will need to go to the Health Department.
Flint Hills Family Medicine, 1301 W. 12th Ave., Suite 101, will start offering their patients flu shots on Oct. 15 by appointment.
Emporia Family Medicine, 1301 W. 12th Ave., Suite 301, will offer a flu vaccination clinic for its patients starting at 9 a.m. on Oct. 27. Patients do not need to make an appointment.