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Drive-thru flu clinics to be held in October

This article appeared in the Iron Mountain Daily News. Read the full story here.

The Dickinson-Iron District Health Department will conduct drive-through community influenza immunization clinics next month.

The events will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, in the parking lot of the Forest Park School in Crystal Falls and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, in the Kingsford High School/Middle School parking lot.

To help with parking congestion, individuals should arrive according to the first letter of their last name. These are only suggested times: A to C, 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.; D-H, 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.; I-M 11 a.n. to noon; N-S, noon to 1 p.m.; T-Z, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.. Upon arrival, please stay in your vehicle and wear a facemask.

DIDHD will not be offering regular walk-in flu clinics this year, so people are urged to attend one of the drive-through clinics.

Flu vaccinations will be available at the drive-through to those people 6 months of age and older at the discretion of their parents and DIDHD staff.

These immunizations are billable to Medicare Part B, Michigan Medicaid and most private health insurance companies. Please bring a copy of your insurance card if possible. For self-pay individuals, checks or exact change is accepted. The standard flu vaccine is $35 and the high dose available to those 65 years of age and older is $70.

Health officials state it is very important to receive the seasonal flu vaccine, especially this year with the COVID-19 pandemic. Flu is a contagious disease spread by coughing, sneezing, or nasal secretions.

Infants, the elderly, pregnant women, and people with certain health conditions — such as heart, lung or kidney disease or a weakened immune system — are at higher risk for complication from the flu virus. Flu can cause high fever and pneumonia, and make existing medical conditions worse.

Each year thousands of people die from seasonal flu and even more require hospitalization. A flu vaccine is a great tool to decrease the chance hospitalization due to influenza.

The goal is increase influenza vaccination, decrease flu related hospitalizations, and spare hospital systems from overcrowding. The single best way to protect against the flu is to get vaccinated each year, health officials said. It is recommended that everyone 6 months of age and older receive a flu vaccine.

The DIDHD also encourages new parents, health care professionals, and those who have contact with people age 65 and older to get vaccinated to help protect these high-risk individuals.

If you or your family is unable to attend the community clinic, please call to schedule your flu vaccine.

For more information go to www.cdc.gov or contact the Health Department at 906-774-1868 or 906-265-9913.

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