A late model Volkswagen has been transformed into the FluBug on East King Street Wednesday morning reminding people of the vaccinations that were taking place inside. photo by Rick Gunn
Armed with a grisly set of teeth and decorated in a rainbow of fluorescent colors, a Volkswagen Beetle, known as "FluBug," was parked on East King Street in Carson City on Wednesday morning.
The car is decorated with a special decal wrap that peels off. Lithia Corp. of Reno donated the new Beetle to grace immunization clinics all over Northern Nevada through Dec. 30.
FluBug is the brainchild of the Washoe County Immunization Coalition, a group of health-care providers dedicated to getting people immunized. Wednesday, it was front and center at a special immunization clinic for state employees.
The clinic was sponsored the Nevada Health Division for National Adult Immunization Week, Oct. 13 to 20, and inside, cookies and punch were given to workers as they filtered through during breaks.
"This was easy," said Matt Wilson, state information specialist. "I'm glad I got it done and over with."
Community health nurse Dona Wilson, who was administering the vaccinations, prescribes a warm shower and exercise for any discomfort.
"We haven't had anyone develop any serious side-effects, except for a little soreness at the site," she said.
Immunization Program Manager Bob Salcido said no shortage of flu vaccine exists this year and there's plenty of time to get that vaccination.
Nationwide, flu season usually peaks in January or February, but that peak came a little early in Nevada last year, around December and January.
October immunizations are primarily for high-risk individuals, including those older than 65 and younger than 2, or those with any condition that might compromise the body's ability to fight infection.
Salcido said flu epidemics start in the Southern Hemisphere and the organism is first isolated there at various sites.
"Fortunately for us, they get the bug first. What's making people sick down there is a good indication of what will migrate up here," he said.
OTHER CLINICS
Planned flu shot clinic dates include:
-- 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 31, Carson Mall
-- 8 a.m. to noon Nov. 1, Minden Medical Center
-- 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 5, Carson Nugget
-- noon to 4 p.m. Nov. 6, Carson Mall
-- 2 to 6 p.m. Nov. 7, Minden Medical Center
-- 8 a.m. to noon Nov. 12, Minden Medical Center
-- 2 to 6 p.m. Nov. 14, Carson Mall
-- 2 to 6 p.m. Nov. 18, Carson Mall
-- 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 20, Minden Medical Center
-- 9:30 to 1 p.m. Nov. 21, Pi-on Plaza
-- 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. Nov. 22 Carson Mall