The West Hartford-Bloomfield Health District will be holding a flu shot clinic during ‘National Influenza Vaccination Week.’

By Ronni Newton

The flu was rampant last winter, and as this year’s flu season begins, officials from the West Hartford-Bloomfield Health District are urging the public to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

Dec. 2-8, 2018 is National Influenza Vaccination Week, “a national awareness week focused on highlighting the importance of influenza vaccination,” according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), and on Dec. 5, there will be a flu shot clinic at West Hartford Town Hall.

“A new CDC-supported study conducted over multiple flu seasons shows that getting a flu vaccination (shot) lessened the risk of severe influenza among adults, including reducing the risk of hospitalization and admission to the intensive care unit (ICU), and lessened the severity of illness,” the Health District said in a news release. “CDC recommends an annual flu vaccination for everyone 6 months and older. Annual flu vaccination varies in how well it works, but it is the best available way to prevent flu and its potentially serious consequences.”

The clinic will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 5, from 4-6 p.m., at West Hartford Town Hall, 50 South Main St.

No appointments are necessary, and vaccines are available for anyone ages 4 and up.

The West Hartford-Bloomfield Health District is able to bill insurance directly and there are no out-of-pocket costs for those who have insurance through Aetna, CIGNA, Anthem, ConnectiCare, Husky, and Medicare Part B. The cost to all others is $30, payable by cash or check.

Anyone with a previous allergic reaction to a flu vaccine, or an allergy to one of the vaccine components, should not be vaccinated.

Anyone unable to attend the Dec. 5 clinic can also make an appointment by calling 860-561-7900 to receive a flu shot at the West Hartford-Bloomfield Health District offices, 580 Cottage Grove Rd., Suite 100, Bloomfield.

Additional information about the flu can be found on the CDC website.

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