GREAT FALLS — The City-County Health Department and Great Falls Fire Rescue are again teaming up to make getting a flu shot fun for all ages.
Every Friday during October, anyone 6 months or older can get flu shots at one of the fire stations around town.
Each event will be from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Here is the schedule:
- October 4th at Fire Station 1 (105 9th Street South)
- October 11th at Fire Station 2 (731 6th Street NW)
- October 18th at Fire Station 3 (3325 Central Avenue)
- October 25th at Fire Station 4 (1800 Fox Farm Road)
Flu shots are no cost with most insurance, but don't forget your insurance card. Cost is $30 with all other forms of payment. CCHD stressed that no one will be denied service based on their ability to pay.
Of the 80,000 people in Cascade County, only about 10,000 got their immunizations last year, according to CCHD Public Health Nurse Bowen Trystianson.
Trystianson says that the idea behind this event was to make getting your flu shot a family event: “It ensures that your entire family is safe from influenza. Partnering up with the fire department means we have a variation of expertise and skills. These guys know car seats, they know car safety. The health department knows flu vaccine and illness prevention. When we put it together it becomes a powerhouse of knowledge, but we also have a good, fun, environment.”
Firefighters also offered free car seat installations and car inspections. Children and families were also invited to meet with firefighters, get tours of the trucks, and take lots of pictures.
While the idea was to create a fun, safe environment that encouraged people to get vaccinated, the focus was still on staying healthy. “We don’t necessarily get vaccinated for ourselves, we tend to get vaccinated for those around us,” explained Trystianson. “There are people who have weakened immune systems, particularly kids and our elders, who need us to prevent the flu from even entering the community, so these events are great because we get more people in there and more vaccines administered.”
Click here to learn more about influenza on the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention website.
