- Free Flu Shot Clinic on October 8!
- Date: 10/8/2024
- Time: 9am to 3:30pm
- Location: 1000 Florida Avenue, Hagerstown (Door #4)
- For employees of The Arc of Washington County
Pharmacare will be at 1000 Florida Avenue to administer flu vaccines on Tuesday, October 8th (9am to 3:30pm with a lunch break from 11:45am to 12:45pm). Their first priority is vaccinating the people we support. Any staff accompanying a person supported is welcome to get a vaccine at the same time. For all other staff, stop by anytime during the clinic and Pharmacare will fit you in as quickly as they can.
The cost of the vaccine is covered 100% by your health insurance as preventive care. You can get a flu shot even if you’re enrolled in a health plan other than Aetna – just remember to bring your health insurance or pharmacy card with you. Even if you do not have health insurance, you can still get your flu shot at no cost to you.
We’ll be in the gym at 1000 Florida Avenue (also known as the Mac Center). Enter through door #4. Allow about 5 minutes for your flu shot. If possible, please arrive a few minutes early to complete basic paperwork. There is a consent form to complete (attached). If you fill it out in advance and bring it with you, that will speed things up. Printed forms can be found in the literature rack in the break room at 820, and of course we’ll have some on hand at the vaccine clinic.
Important information about the flu:
The flu vaccine cannot cause flu. The viruses in the vaccine are inactivated (i.e., killed), which means they cannot cause infection.
CDC recommends yearly vaccination for two reasons. First, new flu vaccines are made each year and often updated to fight against the three or four (depending on vaccine) influenza viruses research suggests will be most common. Second, immunity declines over time, so a yearly vaccination is required for optimal protection.
Vaccines this year will cover three strains – two As and a B strain. Also, there is no flu vaccine that has the COVID-19 vaccine with it this year. Vaccine at this clinic will be just flu vaccine.
It takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body that provide protection against influenza (flu) virus infection. That is why it’s better to get vaccinated before the flu season really gets under way. This is why CDC recommends people get vaccinated by the end of October, if possible.
For more information, please visit: CDC.gov/flu
