October 27, 2008

CDHD To Hold "Vote & Vax" Flu Clinics on Election Day

On Election Day 2008, those who cast their ballots at the Central District Health Department (CDHD) in Boise will find that they can do more than vote—they can also get a flu shot. CDHD will set up a Vote & Vax flu clinic outside the polling area at its office at 707 N Armstrong Place, Boise. The flu clinic is part of a nationwide program to help improve the health of all Americans. Even citizens who don’t vote at CDHD are welcome to come in and get a flu shot on Election Day. Flu clinic hours will be from 7:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Additionally, the CDHD office in Mountain Home, 520 East 8th Street North, (MAP) while not a polling place, will encourage voters who cast their ballots at the Mountain Home Senior Center, 1000 North 3rd East, to walk across the street and get their flu shots. Walk-in Flu clinic hours will be from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at the Mountain Home office (MAP). The clinic is open to everyone, even those who don’t vote at the Mountain Home Senior Center.

CDHD is one of a growing number of health organizations across the country participating in Vote & Vax, a national project to encourage the hosting of flu clinics at polling sites on Election Day.

“This is a great opportunity for everyone, but particularly adults age 50 and older who are especially vulnerable to illness during flu season, to safely and conveniently receive a flu shot, while also voting,” says Teresa Collins, CDHD Immunizations Program Manager. “This Election Day, a record number of Americans are expected to vote at their local community polling places. The Vote & Vax project provides a good solution to help our community protect its health during the upcoming flu season.”

Each year, as many as 60 million people in the United States come down with the flu. Hundreds of thousands of people are hospitalized and more than 36,000 people die as a result of the flu. The majority of those who die are adults age 50 and older. It is important that people take all precautions to ensure they stay healthy. This is why CDHD is providing voters and other community members with easy access to flu shots at its office, which is a polling place, to help protect their health and the health of their community.

“Election Day represents a good opportunity for us to make contact with a large cross section of the community,” says CDHD Director Russell Duke. “Great effort is expended on Election Day to get people to the polls. Because of this, we can vaccinate many people who may otherwise not be reached.”

The cost of the regular influenza vaccination for individuals 19 years of age and older is $28. The FluMist is $36. The children’s flu vaccine is subject to a $14.34 administration charge. Payment is expected at time of service – this includes Medicare patients.

For more information or to set an appointment for an influenza vaccination on another day, please call the Immunizations Department at 208-327-7450. Current information on the flu vaccination is also available on the recorded Flu Hotline 208-321-2222 or online.