Rowan and Cabarrus health officials are holding the first flu shot clinics of the 2008 flu season ó both drive-through affairs ó on Oct. 18, a Saturday.
The Rowan County Health Department and Cabarrus Health Alliance will hold drive-through-only clinics from 8 a.m. to noon Oct. 18.
The Rowan clinic takes place at the Health Department, 1811 E. Innes St., and the Cabarrus clinic, for adults and children, takes place at the Cabarrus County Human Services Building, 1307 S. Cannon Blvd., Kannapolis.
Also on Oct. 18, the Cabarrus Health Alliance will offer flu shots for adults and children from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Harvest Festival, at The Village at the N.C. Research Campus, 200 W. Ave., Kannapolis.
Cabarrus officials will charge $25 for the flu vaccine, and the Health Alliance will file Medicare Part B, Medicaid, BCBSNC, CIGNA, and Wellpath for reimbursement of people getting shots. People should bring their insurance cards.
In Rowan, the first flu vaccine will cost $17, and a pneumonia vaccine costs $30. Rowan officials will accept cash (exact change), Medicaid, Medicare Part B or Railroad Medicare. Officials ask people getting shots to bring cards showing they are enrolled in those programs.
Shots will be administered on a first-come, first-served basis.
Rowan officials have scheduled two walk-in flu shot clinics Oct. 21, a Tuesday, and Oct. 22, both from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the department on East Innes Street.
Residents can make an appointment for the walk-in clinics by calling 704-216-8782. Officials ask residents to leave only one message and promise that Rowan staff members will return calls.
Residents also can go to the walk-in clinic without an appointment and get shots on a first-come, first-served basis.
For more information in Rowan County, call Sharon Owen, 704-216-8846, or Nina Oliver, 704-216-8811.
In their press release, Cabarrus officials said they will following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and offer flu shots for children and adults in these groups:
– People at high risk for complications:
ó People 50 and older
ó People of any age with chronic medical conditions
ó People who live in nursing homes and long-term care facilities
– People who live with or care for those at high risk of complications from flu:
ó Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu
ó Household contacts and caregivers of children younger than 6 months
ó Healthcare workers
In addition, Cabarrus Health Alliance Home Health is providing flu vaccinations to the more than 600 residents in nursing homes and long-term care facilities in Cabarrus County.