The Brownwood/Brown County Health Department held a flu shot clinic Monday, October 10th, at the Depot Civic Center, and will continue Tuesday to offer citizens protection from the flu for just $20. Medicaid Part B is also accepted.
Health Department nurses as well as other staff members were present to help get everyone immunized. Over 180 people had been vaccinated by mid-afternoon on Monday and administrator Alicia Long hopes even more will take advantage of the clinic Tuesday. The clinic will be open from 9:00am-5:00pm Tuesday.
“Flu season is from October to March and a lot of places are offering the shot,” said Long. “If people don’t get there shot with us, we hope they get it somewhere.”
Long stated that there is an abundance of the vaccine this year, giving everyone the chance to be immunized. If this clinic isn’t convenient, there will be several more upcoming clinics in the schools, at businesses and churches. Saturday, October 15th is the date for a clinic at the Early United Methodist Church and other clinics are as follows:
October 12
Blanket ISD
8am-12 noon
October 13
Zephyr ISD
8am-12 noon
October 14
Bangs ISD 8am-12 noon
October 18
Northwest Elementary in Brownwood
8am-12 noon
October 19
Early ISD
8am-4pm
October 20
Brookesmith ISD
8am-12 noon
According to the Center for Disease Control, seasonal flu vaccines protect against the three influenza viruses that research indicates will be most common during the upcoming season. The CDC’s website states that while everyone should get a flu vaccine each flu season, it’s especially important that the following groups get vaccinated either because they are at high risk of having serious flu-related complications or because they live with or care for people at high risk for developing flu-related complications:
- Pregnant women
- Children younger than 5, but especially children younger than 2 years old
- People 50 years of age and older
- People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions
- People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities
- People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including:
- Health care workers
- Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu
- Household contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated)
Pictured above is LVN Outreach Specialist Donna Miller administering a flu shot to a clinic participant.
