The Overton County Health Department and Overton County School System will partner to protect kids and adults against wintertime flu.
Health Department Nursing Supervisor Megan Reeder said the clinics are held at the schools every year. Reeder said the clinics are a great opportunity for the Health Department to get out and about and give people the chance to get vaccinated.
“We try to set up at school events such as ball games, fall festivals, parent-teacher conferences, that sort of thing,” Reeder said. “So we’ve talked to the schools and planned ahead of time, when was a good time for us to come. So we have those scheduled.”
Reeder said the clinics will be open to students and community members. Reeder said children receiving a shot must get approval from a parent or guardian. The shot clinics will not take place during the school day.
“That’s the beauty of the event like at a fall festival,” Reeder said. “There may be parents, grandparents, neighbors that are coming to these events. And we’re set up and we’re there ready to help serve whoever would like one.”
Reeder said the Health Department will be visible in a tent at ball games or on the sidewalk at a fall festival. Reeder said there is no special sign up process, as vaccinations may be given on a walk-up basis.
Reeder said the flu shot is important as it can help prevent the spread of influenza. Reeder said it may not prevent people from catching the flu, but it will make the symptoms less severe.
Reeder said vaccination may be beneficial, but people can take more preventative steps like good hand hygiene to keep from spreading the flu.
“A lot of people don’t realize how much they touch their face, their nose, their mouth, during a day,” Reeder said. “So really hand hygiene, covering your mouth while coughing, sneezing, something like that. “And also, stay at home if you’re ill. If you’re not feeling well, let’s not share that with everyone else.”
Reeder said the relationship with Overton County Schools has been developed over a long time. Reeder said the school system has been very supportive of the Health Department’s community initiatives.
Reeder said people unable to make it to a flu shot clinic can still get vaccinated by coming to their local health department.
Reeder said the schedule for upcoming flu shot clinics can be found on Facebook.