Clinics to dispense 5,000 free flu shots today

Carson City's seasonal flu clinics being held today at two locations are first and foremost an opportunity for residents to take advantage of free immunizations.

"We're absolutely slammed and so excited," Carson City Health and Human Services spokeswoman Pam Graber said Friday.

"We've got 100 volunteers and staff for each location and we have 2,500 seasonal vaccines for each location," Graber said.

But shot-seekers should plan to get to the clinics early.

"Based upon the response we've had so far and the amount of promotion we've done, this thing is not even going to last the full four hours. All the vaccines will probably be gone before noon," she said.

A drive-through clinic will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. today at the Nevada National Guard, 2460 Fairview Dr. A walk-through clinic will be held simultaneously at the Carson City Senior Center, 911 Beverly Dr.

The vaccines are for seasonal flu only, Graber said. H1N1 (swine flu) vaccines will be available in upcoming weeks, dispensed first to the high priority groups identified as healthcare providers, pregnant women, household contacts and caregivers for children under 6 months, people between the ages of 6 and 24, and people 25-64 with health conditions associated with higher risk of complications.

For those who might miss out on today's free flu shots, Graber said vaccines are readily available through traditional means, such as regular health clinics and private physicians, so no one should have to miss out.

She also offered a few tips for staying healthy:

"Handshakes are out. Also, no to knuckle bumps, forehead bumps, high fives, European air kisses or traditional hugs," she said.

People should instead engage in "forearm bumps, bowing (Asian style), foot bumps, snapping your fingers and hugging yourself."

The main objective, she said, is "keeping your distance from the other person's face and breath."

In addition to being flu clinics, Graber said today's events are also a massive emergency preparedness exercise involving many agencies.

The exercise is designed to train and test a plan for a mass need to protect the health of the community from something such as a bioterrorism attack or naturally occurring disease through dispensing pharmaceuticals, Graber said in a prepared release.

"Every worker has a specific task and falls into a specific chain of command," she said.

The emergency preparedness exercise is a combined effort between the Carson City Health and Human Services, Fire Department, Sheriff's Department, Senior Center, School District, Nevada National Guard, Nevada State Health Division, Northern Nevada Immunization Coalition, Nevada Public Health Foundation, Sierra Surgery Hospital, MedDirect Urgent Care and the Veteran's Administration.

For more information, call 887-2190 Monday through Friday.