Dec. 13, 2004

Contact: Todd Cohen, University Relations, (785) 864-8858.

Joint flu clinic successful; more flu vaccine available

LAWRENCE -- The joint flu clinic conducted by the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department and Student Health Services at the University of Kansas for people in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's high-priority groups Dec. 12 proved to be a successful venture between the two health care agencies. In all, 604 flu shots were administered.

Despite the frantic pace that most people in Douglas County are keeping this holiday season, 589 adults and 15 children made it a point to stop by Allen Fieldhouse and do one more thing to make the holiday season more enjoyable by getting a flu shot and, hopefully, avoiding the flu.

" We are grateful to Watkins (Memorial Health Center) for being able to secure enough vaccine for us to be able to have another mass dispensing clinic before the holidays," said Kay Kent, director of the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department. "We knew there were challenges at this time of the year but the response from the community for volunteers was great. I thought this flu clinic was a success because it gave us another chance to practice our emergency health plan and to work through organizing an event like this with another outside group."

There were 150 volunteers from KU's Student Health Services, Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department and the community who worked the mass dispensing clinic.

The clinic opened with approximately 1,500 doses to be distributed, 1,250 of those secured by Student Health Services. The health department received an additional shipment of 320 doses last week and was able to finish vaccinating individuals in congregate retired living units in Douglas County. All residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities had been vaccinated previously.

Approximately 900 doses of flu vaccine are still available to people in the CDC's high-priority groups beginning at 8:30 a.m. Monday, Dec. 13, at the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department, 200 Maine St. The clinic is open until 8 p.m. on Monday. The charges for the flu shots are as follows: children less than 3 years of age -- $12; all others $17. The health department does not deny service to anyone based on an inability to pay for services. People with Medicare, Medicaid or Healthwave should present their cards for billing purposes. Insurance claims will be filed for payment.