Flu season is upon us, and experts advise that the time to get a flu shot is now. Logan Regional Medical Center is making that easier than ever with a "Drive-Thru Flu Clinic."
The clinic will be held Saturday, October 4, from 9 a.m. until noon in the parking area next to the Kruger Building and again Saturday, October 18, at the Chapmanville Regional High School.
Patients will be given a consent form and information sheet when they pull up. After signing, they roll down their car window, roll up their sleeve and a nurse administers the shot.
"They never even have to get out of the car," said Samantha Mullins, Chief Clinical Officer.
Anyone over the age of 18 who does not have an allergic sensitivity to eggs is eligible. And the charge is $15.
"Some people think the flu virus is not that serious. However, it can cause mild to severe illness," Mullins said. "So, the best way to prevent the flu is by getting the vaccination each year."
Even if you're not a high-risk patient, no one is immune. The only reason not to get a flu shot is if you've had an adverse reaction to a flu shot in the past or if you're allergic to eggs because flu shots are cultured from eggs.
Flu season runs from October through March, often peaking in February. Each year, between 5 percent and 20 percent of the U.S. population will come down with the flu, leading to 36,000 flu-related deaths and 200,000 flu-related hospitalizations. The more Americans get their flu shots, the more those numbers go down.
High-risk patients should go to the front of the line when it comes to flu shots. That includes:
* Anyone over 65
* Babies between 6 and 24 months
* Anyone who is immuno-depressed: cancer patients, those with diabetes, heart disease, asthma or HIV
For more information contact Logan Regional Medical Center.
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