Fairfield Health Department Holding Flu Clinics

From the Fairfield Health Department

Fall has arrived and there are many viruses that can cause respiratory illness including the flu circulating in the US this time of year. You can take preventative steps every day against the flu, but the single best way to protect yourself is to get vaccinated! It is recommended that everyone over the age of 6 months receive the flu vaccine every year. It takes about 2 weeks after the flu vaccine for the body to produce antibodies against the flu virus so now is a good time to get protection for this flu season.

The Health Department will host two flu clinics this season for adults and children age 5 and older (for children under the age of 5 please call Public Health Nursing at 203-256-3150). These clinics will be held on Tuesday, October 6th from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. and Wednesday, October 7th from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Both clinics will take place at the Fairfield Senior Center Gymnasium (100 Mona Terrace, Fairfield).

The flu vaccine will be available as an injection or, for healthy people age 5-49, as a nasal spray. The high dose injectable vaccine will also be available for those ages 65 and over. As you get older, your immune system gets weaker. The high dose vaccine is made to promote a stronger immune response to the flu than a regular flu shot. The Pneumonia vaccine will also be available at these clinics.

Medicare Part B, Connecticare, Aetna, Cigna, and Anthem are all accepted and there is no co pay. Cash price for the flu vaccine is $25 and $65 for the Pneumonia vaccine.

For a quicker visit, patients can print out the vaccine consent form at fairfieldct.org/health and bring it completed. Patients should also have their insurance card with them and wear clothes that make it easy to expose the upper arm.

For questions about the flu vaccine, call your primary care physician. If you have questions about the flu clinics, please contact the Public Health Nursing Office at 203-256-3150.

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