Brooking Health System encourages people to get their flu shots

Brookings, S.D. – Oct. 8, 2020 – To help reduce the potential burden on local healthcare providers, Brookings Health System encourages community members to receive the annual influenza vaccine. 

“The flu shot is more important now than ever,” said Infection Preventionist Bunny Christie. “Having the annual influenza vaccine not only protects you from becoming sick, but during the pandemic, it also helps our healthcare teams who need to care for COVID-19 patients. Simply put: by protecting yourself from influenza, you’re allowing our doctors, nurses and other care professionals to treat patients with COVID-19 and non-preventive health conditions.”

The CDC recommends everyone who is at least six months of age receive an annual influenza vaccination. It is especially recommended for individuals who have a high risk of developing serious complications, like pneumonia, if they become sick with the flu. This includes pregnant women, people age 65 and older and people with certain medical conditions like asthma, diabetes, or chronic lung disease.

“The more people who are vaccinated, the more our community at large is protected against influenza,” said Christie. “Almost every local clinic and pharmacy has the flu shot available and is willing to work with people’s insurance.”

To help vaccinate rural populations, Brookings Health System will hold flu shot clinics in Arlington, Volga and White at the following locations and dates: 

• White Medical Clinic, (605) 629-3333: Wed., Oct. 21 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Arlington Medical Center, (605) 983-3283: Wed., Oct. 21 from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
• Volga Medical Clinic, (605) 627-5701: Thurs., Oct. 22 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Flu shot clinics at each location is by appointment only. Drive-up shots are available upon request for patients 18 years of age and older. Patients are expected to bring and wear their own mask. Cost is $30 for anyone wishing to pay out-of-pocket. There are no out-of-pocket costs to Medicare eligible patients. Patients are asked to bring insurance information with them to process. 

More information about influenza can be found online at brookingshealth.org/Influenza.