A special one-day flu shot clinic is planned Monday at the Everett Events Center for senior citizens and others at high risk of serious illness from the flu.
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The FLU program is now full and is not accepting any more reservations. Please go here to read about another event. Special clinic Flu shots will be offered by appointment only 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday at the Everett Events Center, 2000 Hewitt Ave., for those 65 and older and others at high risk of serious illness from the flu. The cost is $20 for a flu shot and $35 for a pneumonia shot. The speed up the process, online reservations are preferred, at www.vnsnw.com/fluprogram. Thos without computer access may call 425-744-2444. |
Sponsored by Visiting Nurse Services of the Northwest, about 1,500 doses will be given by appointment only, said Diane Kolb, director of business development for the Mountlake Terrace-based group.
Appointments may be made through the organization’s Web site. If high-risk patients don’t have access to a computer, they can call for information and appointments, she said.
The appointment system is being set up to avert the long waiting lines that seniors in some other parts of the country have experienced.
“It’s especially hard for the frail population to have a free-for-all,” Kolb said. “I’m hopeful because we’re scheduling that, it won’t be so crazy.”
The organization will be able to give about 250 shots each hour. Appointments will be for a one-hour period, not a specific time.
Shots can be billed to Medicare or Secure Horizons, a Medicare HMO or a health maintenance organization.
Those wanting the shot are asked to wear short-sleeved blouses or shirts to speed up inoculations, Kolb said.
Production problems for Chiron, a vaccine manufacturer that produces about half the nation’s supply, have meant flu shots are in short supply at a time of extremely high demand. All Chiron’s vaccine was banned from distribution.
Many seniors and other high-risk patients have been unable to get flu shots.
In addition to those 65 and older, priority will be given at Monday’s event to people with chronic medical conditions and pregnant women.
Children ages 9 to 18 who have asthma or other chronic conditions can also get the shot, Kolb said. But no pediatric vaccine for children 6 months to 23 months will be available at this event.
Visiting Nurse Services of the Northwest, which organizes flu-shot clinics throughout the Puget Sound area, vaccinated about 50,000 people during the last flu season but was unable to get any vaccine this year until now. Like other area medical organizations, it ordered its supply from Chiron.
An associated national organization, Visiting Nurse Association of America, was able to secure some of the vaccine from the other major producer, Kolb said.
Similar flu shot clinics will be 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday at the Tacoma Dome and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Nov. 30 at Qwest Field in Seattle, Kolb said.
Because of flu vaccine problems, Kolb said she did not know if the organization would be able to sponsor more such events.
“Right now, the whole situation is pretty much day by day,” she said.
Reporter Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486 or salyer@ heraldnet.com.
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