Mass flu shot clinic scheduled
By News-Argus Staff
Published in News on October 17, 2005 1:48 PM
The Wayne County Health Department is planning to hold a mass flu vaccination clinic Saturday, Oct. 29, at Goldsboro Middle School on Lionel Street.
Clinic hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The clinic is designed to prevent people from having to wait in long lines.
Health Director James Roosen said the clinic will allow the department to test the department's plan to vaccinate a large number of people in a small period of time. Another component is the department's ability to notify the public, so updates on the progress of the clinic will be broadcast throughout the day on local radio station, 1150 WGBR.
The plan also calls for vaccinating people in blocks of time according to the first letter of their last name.
Should there ever be a national emergency, such as an outbreak of smallpox or bird flu, the department has a written plan to inoculate county residents as quickly as possible, Roosen said. This clinic is a way of seeing if the plan can work.
"What we want is easy access with no long lines or long waiting," he said. "We want to see a steady flow of people throughout the day. We have a couple of thousand doses of the flu vaccine so everybody should be able to get it."
He said it's important for people to come during the time slot set aside. To minimize wait time, people are asked to arrive at the clinic based on the first letter of their last name.
People whose last names begin with:
*A-D should plan to arrive between the hours of 8 and 10.
*E-J should be there between 10 and noon.
*K-P, should be there between noon and 2:30 p.m.
*Q-Z are to come between 2:30 and 5 p.m.
The Health Department is striving to make this as easy and as comfortable as possible for everyone attending.
The clinic is open to the general public, particularly those considered high risk.
There will be a $20 charge for the flu vaccine and a $30 charge for the pneumonia vaccine to those who do not have Medicare or Medicaid. Those with coverage should bring their health care coverage cards. To save processing time, people with access to the Internet may go online at www.waynegov.com/health to print out and complete the registration form. Patients may bring the completed form on the day of the clinic.
Those attending are asked to come via Royall Avenue and turn south on Bain Street. Special needs patients such as those in wheelchairs or who are non-ambulatory are asked to enter by way of Lionel Street. Efforts are being made to accommodate these folks.
Local law enforcement officers will be on duty to direct parking.
Flu shots are available during regular clinic hours this week for pregnant woman and high-risk children, he said.
For more information, call the department at 731-1000.