The Christian County Health Department has scheduled its second drive-thru flu shot clinic. It will be from 8 to 11 a.m. Oct. 14 at Tie Breaker Park, occurring along with the health department’s ongoing COVID-19 testing.
Health officials are urging people to get a flu shot this year because influenza and COVID-19 have many of the same symptoms. Both are caused by a virus, although not the same virus, and can result in serious respiratory problems. As a result, health care facilities and physicians’ offices could be overwhelmed if flu outbreaks occur while there are large numbers of COVID-19 cases.
“This is a year I think it’s important to try to get vaccinated sooner rather than later for influenza,” Dr. Derek Forster, medical director for infection prevention and control at UK HealthCare in Lexington said for a Kentucky Health News story. “We still believe a flu vaccine is one of the most important ways to prevent influenza.”
Anyone who goes for a flu shot on Oct. 14 will also have the option of being tested for COVID-19.
The cost for a flu shot is $30 for a regular dose and $50 for a high dose (age 65 and older). Most people with insurance will not have to pay for the shot if they bring their insurance card. There is no charge for the COVID-19 test.
For a flu shot or a coronavirus test, drivers should enter Tie Breaker Park through the Stadium of Champions parking lot off LaFayette Road.
Jennifer P. Brown is co-founder, publisher and editor of Hoptown Chronicle. You can reach her at editor@hoptownchronicle.org. Brown was a reporter and editor at the Kentucky New Era, where she worked for 30 years. She is a co-chair of the national advisory board to the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, governing board past president for the Kentucky Historical Society, and co-founder of the Kentucky Open Government Coalition. She serves on the Hopkinsville History Foundation's board.
