North Central Public Health District (NCPHD) is offering free mobile flu vaccine clinics to organizations that can bring at least 10 people to an event. Health district nurses will go to the organization’s location and be
onsite for up to an hour to provide the free vaccines.
NCPHD is offering free flu vaccines to anyone who wants one in Wasco, Sherman and Gilliam counties, regardless of whether they have insurance. The mobile vaccine clinics can take place in any of the three
counties.
To arrange a flu vaccine clinic, please email Kristen Slatt at [email protected], or call 541-506-2752.
Individuals who would like to come to the health district’s office for a vaccine can call 541-506-2600 to schedule an appointment. The office is located at 419 E. 7th St. in The Dalles.
The flu vaccine is available to everyone six months and older. However, the health district does not have the specialized high-dose vaccines more suited for those aged 65 and older.
“Flu vaccines are safe and effective, and with ongoing COVID-19 outbreaks, it is more important than ever to get a flu shot to keep the people around you healthy,” said Paul Cieslak, M.D., public health physician at the
Oregon Health Authority. A “twindemic” of two potentially fatal viruses circulating at the same time could burden the state’s health care system and result in many illnesses, hospitalizations and deaths, Cieslak said.
NCPHD has seen an unprecedented interest in the flu vaccine this fall, providing far more vaccines than it has in the past.
Getting the flu vaccine is the best way to prevent the flu. In some cases, the vaccination may not prevent the flu altogether but it can confer enough immunity to lessen the symptoms if a person does get it. And that can
prevent a hospitalization due to flu, taking some burden off the healthcare system when it is overwhelmed with COVID patients.
NCPHD got 500 doses of vaccine, some of which have been distributed to community partners including the regional jail in The Dalles, Arlington Medical Clinic, South Gilliam County Medical Clinic in Condon,
Community Meals in The Dalles, One Community Health in The Dalles, and Sherman County School District.
(For more information, please contact North Central Public Health District at (541) 506-2600 or visit us on the web at www.ncphd.org or https://wascoshermangilliamcovid-19.com/)