First walk-in clinic scheduled for Oct. 21
EBS STAFF
The Big Sky Medical Center will hold its first flu vaccine clinic of three scheduled this fall Wednesday, Oct. 21 from 1-5 p.m. The flu vaccine clinics will be walk-in only; following dates are Nov. 4 and Nov. 18.
Bozeman Health shared an info sheet about common misunderstandings about the flu vaccine.
“The influenza vaccine contains a non-infectious virus, so it can’t give you the flu. If you feel sick soon after getting the flu shot, it’s likely from a different infection that the vaccine doesn’t protect against,” the information sheet states.
The flu clinic is open to people ages 2 and older. Most patients with insurance will not have an out-of-pocket cost for the vaccine, but coverage varies by plan, so Bozeman Health recommends checking in with an individual’s insurance provider.
Self-pay patients will receive a 20% discount and can expect to pay $86 for the regular vaccine, known as Fluaval, or $126 for the Fluad vaccine.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, seasonal flu activity is increasing in many parts of the country, with the highest activity on the West Coast. Overall, according to an Oct. 3 update, activity remains low. The CDC recommends receiving the influenza vaccine ideally before the end of October for most people.
