Get Your Flu Shot This Weekend: Walk-In Clinics Available
This Friday marks the beginning of a special weekend vaccination drive aimed at protecting the community ahead of the anticipated winter flu season. All Continuing Care Points (PACs), acting as outpatient emergency clinics, will be offering flu and COVID-19 vaccines without the need for appointments or age restrictions. This open-access vaccination effort will continue through the weekend, concluding on Sunday, December 8th.
Boosting Vaccination Rates Before Flu Season Peaks
Health officials are urging residents to take advantage of this convenient opportunity to get vaccinated. The campaign comes as part of a broader effort to mitigate the strain on healthcare facilities during the expected surge in flu cases. Last year’s flu season led to record numbers of patients at emergency rooms and hospitals.
“Our goal is to minimize the risk of our health centers becoming overwhelmed once the seasonal epidemic begins, something that typically happens on the eve of Christmas or during the holidays,” explained a health official. “We saw this firsthand last year when HUBU and PAC Emergency Rooms were inundated with patients in late December, and hospitalizations spiked significantly in mid-January.”
Open Access Vaccination Clinics: No Appointment Necessary
Just a few weeks ago, the vaccination campaign was adjusted to encourage wider participation. To facilitate accessibility, residents recommended for vaccination, particularly those over 60 and children between 6 months and 5 years old, were invited to visit PACs between 3:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. over the weekend. This approach resulted in the administration of 11,700 doses within a two-week period.
Flu Vaccination Numbers on the Rise
Updated data released yesterday confirms that this fall, 86,396 doses of flu vaccines have been administered. This figure represents a slight increase of 3,454 compared to the same time last year. While initial numbers are encouraging, health officials are hoping the open-access weekend vaccination rounds will significantly boost these figures.
Preventing a Repeat Performance: Learning from Last Year
Christmas festivities and gatherings often contribute to the accelerated spread of flu viruses. Last year, HUBU emergency doctors treated over 400 patients daily for five consecutive days in the final week of 2023. On December 27th, the number surpassed 500. In addition, local PACs saw significantly increased patient numbers, with lines forming outside some clinics even before opening, and some reporting seeing 60 patients in the first hour alone on December 27th.
These statistics underscore the urgent need to ensure everyone is protected against the flu.
Where can people get a flu shot this weekend?
## Interview: Flu Shots Available This Weekend
**Interviewer:** Welcome back to the show. With flu season just around the corner, health officials are urging everyone to get vaccinated. To tell us more about a special drive happening this weekend, we’re joined by Dr. [Guest Name], a [Guest Title] with [Guest Affiliation]. Dr. [Guest Name], welcome to the show.
**Dr. [Guest Name]:** Thank you for having me.
**Interviewer:** So, tell us about this flu shot campaign.
**Dr. [Guest Name]:** This weekend, all Continuing Care Points, or PACs, are offering walk-in flu and COVID-19 vaccinations. It’s a great opportunity for everyone to get protected before flu season really hits. Vaccines will be available to anyone, regardless of age, without needing an appointment.
**Interviewer:** Why is it important to get vaccinated, especially this year?
**Dr. [Guest Name]:** Last year’s flu season was tough. We saw record numbers of people needing hospital care. Getting vaccinated helps protect you and your loved ones from getting sick, and it also helps reduce the strain on our healthcare system. [[1](https://www.cdc.gov/flu/vaccines/keyfacts.html)]
**Interviewer:** And this weekend drive aimed at everyone, right?
**Dr. [Guest Name]:** Exactly. We want to make it as easy as possible for everyone to get vaccinated. No need to schedule anything, just walk into any PAC this Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.
**Interviewer:** Excellent, Dr. [Guest Name]. Thank you for sharing this important information. We encourage everyone to take advantage of this opportunity to protect themselves and the community.
**Dr. [Guest Name]:** Thank you. Let’s all do our part to stay healthy this winter.
**Interviewer:** For more information on flu prevention and vaccination, please visit [relevant website link].
