ADH to hold free community flu vaccination clinic in each of the 75 county health units on Monday

Little Rock, Arkansas — Flu shots will be distributed throughout the state by the Arkansas Department of Health in advance of the 2022–2023 flu season.

Starting on September 26, each county health unit in Arkansas will organize a community flu vaccine clinic. These clinics are typically a day-long event when the health unit collaborates with multiple community volunteers to offer flu vaccines to as many people as possible.

According to ADH representatives, the vaccination will be free of charge, and patients should bring their insurance cards to the flu shot clinic.

The flu vaccine will still be free of charge if you don’t have insurance or your insurer doesn’t cover it, according to officials.

“The flu should not be taken lightly,” Dr. Joel Tumlison, ADH Medical Director for Immunizations said. “We are encouraging everyone to get a flu vaccine to protect themselves and their families because it is hard to predict in advance how severe the flu season is going to be. With COVID-19 still circulating in our communities, it is especially important to keep yourself healthy and out of the hospital.”

The majority of people and children aged six months and older, according to ADH, should receive an annual flu shot.

According to health officials, the flu virus evolves from season to season, and this year’s vaccine protects against the strains that are anticipated to be the most contagious this flu season.

ADH highly advises that individuals in these groups get the flu shot because influenza can affect people of all ages, with older adults, small children, pregnant women, and persons with chronic health conditions potentially being the most severely impacted.

There are very few medical grounds to forego the flu shot, according to officials, who also claimed that the vaccine is safe and does not spread the illness.

ADH said that the flu can be easily shared by coughing or sneezing, touching a surface that has the virus on it, such a doorknob, and then touching the nose or mouth.

The best approach to prevent the flu, according to health professionals, is to receive the vaccine, but good hand washing habits are vital.