By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
Flu season is here and the St. Joseph Health Department wants to make sure that you are prepared to combat the risk of contracting it.
On Wednesday, the health department will hold its annual free flu clinic for Buchanan County adults. Health Department spokeswoman Nancy King says the flu shot may be more important than ever this year.
"For the upcoming flu season, the flu vaccination will be very important to reduce flu in order to reduce the overall impact of respiratory illnesses on the population and lessen the burden on the healthcare system during the COVID-19 pandemic," King says. "So, if we can reduce the number of serious flu cases, possible flu hospitalizations, then that will lessen the burden on our healthcare system."
King also says health officials are encouraging everyone to take preventative measures to avoid getting the flu, a preventable disease.
"It's a vaccine-preventable disease and it kills more people in the United States every year, prior to COVID, than any other vaccine-preventable illness, so we just encourage people to take that preventative step to get a vaccination, to either prevent getting the flu or to reduce the severity of symptoms if they were to contract it."
Flu shots will be given free of charge Wednesday, the 14th, at Krug Park from 9 a.m. until noon, as long as supplies last. It will operate as a drive-up service, and will be free to all Buchanan County adults, and you must wear a mask or facial covering during your time there.
There will be no additional services at the Health Department on the day of the clinic, but all services will resume the following day