BARNSTABLE – The Barnstable County Department of Health and Environment will be hosting a flu shot clinic at the Barnstable County Complex in Barnstable Village.
The clinic will not require an appointment and shots will be administered without residents ever needing to leave their cars.
“If you can get protection against one respiratory virus, it’s a good idea. You don’t want to get coronavirus and flu at the same time. It could be, depending on your health status, a very difficult course of illness,” said Public Health Nurse for the county Deirdre Arvidson.
“Protect yourself from what you can and don’t let your other immunizations slip by, either.”
The Health Department said that the public getting flu shots will help prevent the healthcare systems from becoming overwhelmed, as they have already been taxed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Arvidson said that the county is trying to prevent too much overlap between a possible flu outbreak and the pandemic.
“Every year the hospitals get very busy with people who have the flu and generally have some co-morbid conditions like asthma that make it more difficult for them when they get the flu. So, the hospital will, as usual, pick up in cases of flu related admissions,” said Arvidson.
All residents of Barnstable County six months and older will be provided flu shots by the Barnstable County Public Health Nurse Division of the Department of Health.
Residents will enter the Barnstable County Complex at the side driveway from Railroad Avenue and then follow signs to the parking lot in front of the old jailhouse where a volunteer will direct them to a lane.
Participants will need to bring a completed consent form for each person being vaccinated. Forms are available for download and print here.
Insurance cards should also be brought for billing, though there is no co-pay. Children 18 and under can receive the vaccine for free, as can adults with no insurance.
Those receiving vaccines are asked to wear short sleeves or other clothing that provides easy access to the upper arm.
The clinic will be held at the Barnstable County Complex on September 26 from 8 am to 12 pm.
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