KALISPELL — The Flathead City-County Health Department’s annual flu clinic will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 2 from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. at the Flathead County Fairgrounds.
“We look forward to this event every year because it allows us the opportunity to get out into the community to administer as many flu vaccinations as possible while at the same time, practice our public health emergency response procedure," Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Supervisor Lisa Dennison said.
"So, when people come to this event, they are not only helping prevent the transmission of influenza by getting their flu vaccination, but they are also helping us rehearse our response procedure to ensure we are skilled and efficient in event of a true emergency,” she added.
Local health officials want to remind everyone to take the first and most important step in protecting against the flu by getting a flu shot. Everyone 6 months of age and older should get a flu shot every season.
Influenza vaccination is the best way to prevent getting the flu, but it takes up to two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body and provide protection against the flu.
Wednesday's clinic will take place in the Expo Building and will include a drive-up vaccine service to accommodate people with special needs or who are unable to get out of their vehicles.
Most insurance plans, Medicaid, and Medicare will be accepted and no child will be refused vaccine due to inability to pay, according to a news release. Click here or call (406) 751-8110 for more information.
Flu Facts from the Flathead City-County Health Department:
- Flu is a contagious, upper-respiratory disease caused by the influenza virus.
- Flu can affect any person in any age group.
- Each year in the United States, millions of people get sick with the flu, hundreds of thousands of people are hospitalized because of the flu, and tens of thousands die because of the flu.
- A seasonal flu vaccination is the best way to reduce the chances of getting the flu as well as preventing the spread of flu to others.
Vaccination to prevent influenza is particularly important for people who are at high risk of serious complications from influenza, 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
