Take A Shot At The Flu: Clinics Hosted By Polk County Health Department

DES MOINES, IA -- The beginning of autumn signals cooler weather, falling leaves and the start of a stronger cold and flu season. That means it's time to roll up your flannel shirt sleeve and head out for a flu shot. The Polk County Health Department today released a schedule of when and where you can get inoculated.

Hundreds of thousands of Central Iowans get their flu shot each year for a variety of reasons. “Individuals get the flu vaccine not only to keep themselves healthy but to keep others healthy who can’t get the flu shot,” said Rick Kozin, director of the Polk County Health Department.

Children under the age of six months and individuals who are allergic to ingredients in the flu vaccine are among those who cannot get a flu shot every year. When a large percentage of our community can be vaccinated against the flu every year, the spread of the virus is limited, officials said. This will indirectly protect unvaccinated people, including those who can’t be vaccinated for the flu.

“Others get the flu vaccine simply because they do not want to be sick and lose time from their family and the things they enjoy doing,” Kozin said.

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Each year, the flu hospitalizes more than 200,000 people, including 20,000 children younger than five years of age. The elderly, young children, pregnant women and individuals with chronic health conditions are more susceptible to serious health complications such as pneumonia, sinus infections, ear infections and bronchitis if they contract the illness.

If you do get the flu, be prepared to be sick for up to two weeks, officials said.

The Polk County Health Department schedule of community flu clinics is underway. To speed up the process at the clinics, you can download a consent form in English or Spanish from the website, fill it out and present it at the clinic.

Flu clinics are scheduled throughout the metro area from now through mid-November. Those unable to visit one of the more than 50 community clinics can get a flu shot at the walk-in clinic at the Polk County Health Department, 1907 Carpenter Ave. in Des Moines. Flu walk-in clinic hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, with late hours until 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays.

Most major insurance plans are accepted. Don’t forget to bring your insurance card to the clinic. Fluzone, a flu shot specifically designed for people 65 years and older, will be $50. As people age, their immune system weakens over time. Fluzone provides a higher dose of antigen in the vaccine and is supposed to give older people a better immune response, which provides better protection against flu. The cost for regular flu shot for those without insurance is $20.

To check for updates or changes in the clinic schedule, call the Polk County FluLine at 515-286-3609. For more information about the flu shot or community based clinics, click here.

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