Clark County Health Unit’s mass flu clinic will be held Friday at the Arkadelphia Recreation Center on North 26th Street. Traffic will be restricted to one-way and vehicles will need to enter the parking lots from 26th Street only.
The mass flu clinic will be held from 7 a.m.-5:30 p.m., or until the vaccine runs out.
Seasonal flu vaccine will be dispensed based on availability at this emergency drill. Any H1N1 vaccine on hand will be given only to those in high priority groups — all children ages 6 months to 4 years, pregnant women, and children ages 5-18 with underlying medical conditions.
According to John Miller, health unit administrator, the vaccinations are free, though it is asked that those with Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance bring their cards with them.
Oct. 30, Miller said, will be the first day the local health unit can give flu shots to the general public. Afterwards, anyone who comes to the local health unit for a seasonal flu shot will be charged $20, unless they have Medicare or Medicaid. ARKids First is a Medicaid program for young people up to age 19, and it, too, will cover the cost of a flu shot at the unit. Due to limited supplies of vaccine at this time, vaccine may not be available for the majority of the general public until later in the year.
If the flu consent forms are filled out prior to the clinic, an express lane will be available. Forms for the mass clinic have been placed in businesses throughout Clark County, Miller said. It is imperative people fill them out legibly and correctly, both front and back — especially the insurance information. “Just marking the box showing a person has insurance isn’t any help. We need the group and ID numbers for regular insurance, and the number on children’s ARKids First cards.”
For those who aren’t physically able to come inside the recreation center, a drive-through option will be available. There will be signs directing the traffic flow for those with special needs. A completed flu consent form will limit traffic congestion in this area.
“While this is called a ‘mass flu clinic’,” Miller said, “it’s really the health unit’s annual mass emergency drill. We are practicing what we would do in the event of an actual emergency.
“We will be working with the Arkadelphia Police Department, Clark County Sheriff’s Office, Clark County Judge’s Office, the Clark County Office of Emergency Services and Baptist Hospital, and others, just as we would if it were a real emergency.”