Final week for Walk-In Flu and COVID Vaccine Clinics is Wednesday, November 13
The walk-in Flu and COVID Vaccines Clinics will continue to be held at Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care/Allamakee Public Health, for one more week, November 13, from 9-11:30 a.m. Anyone is welcome to walk-in without an appointment to receive either or both of these vaccines. Appointments can also be made for any Wednesday afternoon by calling 563-568-5660.
Flu shots are recommended for all those who have not yet received the vaccine and will be effective throughout the rest of the flu season. According to the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, flu vaccines are proven to help prevent millions of illnesses and have been shown to reduce the risk of having to go to the doctor by 40-60%. COVID-19 vaccines help protect by creating an antibody response without having to experience potentially severe illness or post-COVID conditions. Although it is still possible to get sick after being vaccinated, flu and COVID immunizations are proven to help prevent severe illness, which can be lifesaving.
The cost for a flu shot is $35, $42 for flu mist and $75 for the senior high dose flu shot. Medicare, Medicaid and most insurances do cover the cost of the flu and COVID vaccine. Billing for vaccinations will be completed by the Community and Home Care staff, but participants will need to bring their Medicare number or private insurance card with them.
Influenza (flu), as described by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), is a potentially fatal, contagious respiratory illness caused by viruses that infect the nose, throat, and lungs. Flu vaccines prevent and diminish the severity of flu-related illness, reducing the need for clinical medical care and hospitalization.
Flu vaccines are effective at saving and protecting lives and health system dollars. They reduce the potential for serious illness while also reducing strain on healthcare resources and the workforce. Vaccination is especially important in the fall and winter when respiratory diseases circulate in high volume across the country. On average, 26.8 million Americans become infected with the flu every year. These vaccines work by activating the body’s immune response, which can protect from severe respiratory illness.
The CDC now recommends that everyone age 6 months of age and older get vaccinated against the flu every year. For those who are at higher risk of developing serious flu complications, flu vaccination is especially important. These groups include:
• Adults 65 and older
• Adults with certain chronic health conditions, such as asthma, heart disease, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease
• Pregnant people
• Children younger than 5 years, but especially those younger than 2 years old
Flu vaccines have been proven safe and effective for people with any form of an egg allergy. Former safety measures are no longer recommended for flu vaccination of people with an egg allergy. However, all flu vaccines should continue to be given in settings where allergic reactions can be recognized and treated quickly. The flu vaccines have also been updated to include the strains that are most likely to circulate during this year’s flu season.
For more information about this walk-in vaccination clinic, or to make an appointment to receive either or both vaccines during a Wednesday afternoon, call the Veterans Memorial Hospital Community and Home Care Department at 563-568-5660.
