Flu shot clinics team up with polling places
CHAMPAIGN – Some Champaign-Urbana voters will get a chance to cast their ballots and roll up their sleeves for a flu shot all at the same place on Election Day.
With flu season right around the corner, the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District is trying a new initiative called "Vote and Vax" to attempt to reach more flu shot scoffers and get them vaccinated.
Mobile flu shot clinics will be parked at three polling places on Nov. 4. The sites were selected because, demographically, the people who vote in those areas are the least likely to get the flu vaccine, according to Julie Pryde, acting public health administrator. Clinics are listed below.
Given projections for a high voter turnout, Pryde says she is optimistic many will take advantage of this opportunity.
"We'll be there all day," she said.
Public flu-shot clinics are already under way throughout the area, and health experts have two pieces of good news this year: The supply of flu vaccine is plentiful, and the vaccine has been completely reformulated in hope of making it a better match than last year's vaccine to the projected flu viruses.
The vaccine is developed each year based on which three flu strains health experts believe are most likely to make people sick in the upcoming flu season.
Typically, one or two strains used are different from the previous year. But this year, all three strains were changed.
"This year's vaccine should offer the protection of all the previous years, with the exception of last year," Pryde said.
"And even though last year's wasn't 100 percent effective, it certainly cut down on morbidity and mortality."
There's a new national focus on getting all children older than 6 months and all teens vaccinated for the 2008-09 flu season, according to Carle Clinic Employee Health Nurse Bev Knapp.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention broadened its guidelines from advising a flu shot for all children 6 months to age 5 to now include children and teens from 6 months to age 18.
The CDC strongly advises vaccination for all those at high risk: small children, the elderly, health care workers and people with chronic medical conditions.
Pryde said anyone who has had the flu once will likely get a flu shot, because anyone who has had it doesn't want to get it again.
"It's an absolutely miserable illness to have," Pryde said.
It's also a potential killer. Pryde said too few people pay attention to the fact that flu kills 36,000 to 40,000 people in the U.S. each year.
There also is some good news for insured families with children who scream at the sight of a needle: Most insurance companies are now covering FluMist, a nasal vaccine spray, Knapp said.
It's easy to take and widely available for children and adults ages 2 to 49, as long as they're in good health and not pregnant or breast-feeding, she said.
"It's just like you're getting a little nose drops in. They don't even have to sniff it up," she said.
Visit www.sayboototheflu.com for more information about the disease.
CHAMPAIGN-URBANA PUBLIC HEALTH DISTRICT
– Oct. 8 and 9, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.: Drive-through clinic at district headquarters parking lot, 201 W. Kenyon Road, C.
– Nov. 4: Vote and Vax while the polls are open: Sunnycrest Mall, South Philo Road, U; Meadowbrook Community Church, 1902 Duncan Road, C; Mount Olive Baptist church, 808 E. Bradley Ave., C.
CARLE CLINIC
Flu shots, FluMist and pneumonia vaccine at all locations unless noted.
– Oct. 13 to15, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Vineyard Christian Church, 1500 N. Lincoln Ave., U: walk-in or drive-through. Children 6 months to 4 vaccinated inside the building.
– Oct. 16 to 18, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Carle Clinic, 1818 E. Windsor Road, U.
– Oct. 23 to Dec. 31, weekdays 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays 8 a.m. to noon at Carle Clinic, 1818 E. Windsor Road, U.
– Oct. 20 to 22, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Carle Clinic, 1701 W. Curtis Road, C.
– Oct. 23 to Dec. 31, weekdays 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Carle Clinic, 1701 W. Windsor Road.
– Oct. 23 to Dec. 31, weekdays from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays 8 a.m. to noon at Carle Foundation Hospital breezeway, 611 W. Park St., U.
– Oct. 25 and Nov. 1, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Carle Clinic, 311 W. Fairchild, Danville: Flu and pneumonia shots for ages 18 and older.
– Oct. 30 to Nov. 13, 4:30 to 7 p.m. at Carle Clinic, 1109 N. State St., Monticello. No FluMist.
– Oct. 15, 8 to 11:30 a.m. at St. Philomena Catholic Church, 1301 N. Market St., Monticello: Drive-through flu shots only for age 18 and up.
– Nov. 19, 9 a.m. to noon at Carle Clinic, 1540 E. Grove St., Rantoul.
– Oct. 25, 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Carle Clinic, 301 E. Southline Road, Tuscola: flu shots and FluMist for ages 9 and older; no pneumonia vaccine.
CHRISTIE CLINIC
– Oct. 18 to 19, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. at branch clinics at 1801 W. Windsor Road, C; 1710 E. Windsor Road, U; 3545 N. Vermilion St., Danville; 209 W. Borman Drive, Rantoul; 202A Eastwood Drive, Mahomet; 300 N. Main St., Tuscola.
– Nov. 8 and 9, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Champaign and Urbana Windsor Road branch clinics.
– Dec. 6:, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Christie Champaign and Urbana Windsor Road branch clinics.
– Oct. 20-Dec. 5: weekdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Christie in Urbana.
PROVENA MEDICAL GROUP
All are drive-up clinics unless noted.
– Oct. 22, 2 to 4 p.m. at Provena Medical Office Building, 1400 W. Park St., U.
– Oct. 15, 8 a.m. to noon at Provena United Samaritans parking lot J, enter off Williams Street.
– Oct. 8, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Provena Medical Group at 711 E. Pells St., Paxton.
– Oct. 8 and Oct. 15, 2-5 p.m. at Provena Medical Group at 501 N. Dunlap Ave., Savoy.
– Oct. 14, 7 a.m. to noon at St. Joseph United Methodist Church, 205 N. Third St., St. Joseph.
– Oct. 21, 7 a.m. to noon, Provena Medical Group, 226 E. Lincoln, St. Joseph: Walk-in.
– Oct. 17 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at Provena Medical Group at 704 N. Main St., Tuscola.
VERMILION COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
– Oct. 14, 1 to 5:30 p.m. at Hoopeston's Multi Agency, 206 S. First St., Hoopeston.
– Oct. 15, 1 to 5:30 p.m. at Georgetown Fair Banquet Center, 413 N. Seminary Road, Georgetown.
– Walk-in clinics at main facility at 200 S. College St., Danville:
Oct. 2, 8:30 to 4 p.m.
Oct. 6, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Oct. 9, noon to 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 20, 8:30 to 4 p.m.
Oct. 22, 8:30 to 4 p.m.
Oct. 24, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Oct. 28, 8 a.m. to noon.
Oct. 30, 1 to 5:30 p.m.
– Oct. 18 from 8 a.m. to noon at Danville facility east side entrance: Drive-through clinic for those with trouble walking; pre-registration required by calling 431-2662.
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