Community Corner
Flu Clinic at the Visiting Nurse Service & Hospice of Suffolk
If you haven’t received a preventive flu shot yet, the Visiting Nurse Service & Hospice of Suffolk, located at 505 Main Street, Northport, will be hosting flu clinics for adults 19 years of age and older and is also accommodating walk-in flu shots Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 4 PM.
According to Patty Van Dyke, VNSHS Staff Development Coordinator who is in charge of the clinics, the VNSHS, which administered over 2,000 shots in preparation for last winter’s flu season, has a plentiful supply, and hopes to administer as many this year.
The CDC recommends that all persons over 6 months of age get the influenza vaccination.Typically the flu season peaks in February and the CDC recommends getting vaccinated as soon as the vaccine is available, Van Dyke said.
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“The shot is a mixture of three different strains of the flu virus”, Van Dyke indicated, adding that the VNSHS obtains its vaccine supply from Sanofi Pasteur, America’s sole manufacturer which boasts 40 years of experience. We are presently giving only the traditional flu shot and also have a limited amount of flu vaccine available without the preservative.
At VNSHS, the vaccines are administered by registered nurses, who are trained in infection control and seek to avoid complications by screening for allergies or a history of Guillain-Barré Syndrome, Van Dyke said, adding that the nurses suggest that recipients remain at the clinic for 10 to 15 minutes after receiving their injection.
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Flu shots will not be administered to pregnant women or anyone under 19 by the VNSHS but it is highly recommended for these two groups to get vaccinated.
Flu clinics will be held on all of the Saturdays in October from 9 am to 12 noon. No registration is required. The fee is $30; bring your ID card to have the VNSHS bill Medicare part B and Medicaid directly. A receipt may be submitted to the insurance company for reimbursement for those enrolled in a Medicare HMO, Medicare Managed Care plan, or those who have private insurance. The VNSHS will also do their best to accommodate those who are unable to attend a clinic. For information, call 261-7200.
