KALISPELL – Local health officials are gearing up for their annual flu clinic in Kalispell.
The Flathead City-County Health Department will host the clinic on Tuesday, October 2 from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. at the Flathead County Fairgrounds.
“The clinic serves a dual purpose of offering flu vaccines with little wait time and testing public health emergency preparedness,” said the health department’s Kerry Nuckles.
The Health Department is urging everyone over the age of six months old to get a flu shot this year and note that it takes up to two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body and provide protection against the flu.
Flu prevention is particularly important for people who are at high risk of serious complications including:
- People 65 years and older
- Children younger than 5, but especially younger than 2 years old
- People with certain chronic health conditions like asthma and COPD, diabetes (both type 1 and 2), heart disease, neurological conditions, and certain other health conditions
- Pregnant women
Persons who live with or care for persons at high risk should also be vaccinated, including:
- Household members in frequent contact with persons at high risk
- Child care providers
- Health care workers
Additional services at the clinic inside the Flathead County Fairgrounds Expo Building include a drive-up vaccine service to accommodate people with special needs or who are unable to get out of their vehicles. Pneumonia vaccines will also be available to those who are eligible.
Most insurance plans, Medicaid, and Medicare will be accepted; no one will be refused vaccine due to inability to pay.
Click here for more information on the annual flu clinic or call (406) 751-8110.
Statistics from the Montana Department of Health and Human Services show that there were 7,935 influenza cases last year including 829 hospitalizations and 56 deaths attributed to the flu in Montana.
