Banner Medical Clinic offers drive thru flu shot clinics

TORRINGTON, Wyo. (Oct. 4, 2010) — The flu comes around every year affecting up to 20 percent of the population, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Immunization can help keep you out of the doctor’s office or hospital.

Although most healthy people infected with the flu virus can weather the infection without problems, the flu can cause serious sickness in some, especially those at high risk for complications. Each year, the highly contagious seasonal bug kills 36,000 people and sends another 200,000 to the hospital.  The flu vaccine reduces the average person’s chances of catching the flu by up to 80 percent.

The flu season technically lasts from November until April, but it is best to try to have your family vaccinated between October and mid-November. You can still be immunized later, but getting the vaccine early gives the body enough time to build up immunity to or protection from the flu virus before infection rates start to climb in the cold months.

Banner Medical Clinic will be holding drive by flu shot clinics on Saturday, Oct. 9 and Saturday, Oct. 23 from 9 a.m. to noon in the East and West parking lots at the clinic.  The cost will be $35.  Only Medicare and Equality Care (Medicaid) will be billed and you must bring your card.  All others will be cash and check only.  We can only serve adults, 19 years of age and older, at the drive by clinics.  Children 18 years of age and younger will be able to receive their shots in the clinic when state vaccine is received.