Kiowa County Public Health has announced the schedule for its annual flu shot clinics. KCPH notes that vaccine is plentiful and available for both children and adults. The agency has Quadrivalent vaccine for both children and adults as well as High Dose vaccine for adults >65 years of age.   

Routine annual influenza vaccination is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for all persons aged >6 months who do not have contraindications. In general, anyone who wants to reduce their chances of getting the flu can get vaccinated. However, certain people should get vaccinated each year either because they are at high risk, have had serious flu-related complications or because they live with or care for high risk persons. Vaccination to prevent influenza is particularly important for people who are at higher risk for medical complications attributable to severe influenza. Those persons include:

• All children aged 6 through 59 months;
• All person aged >50 years;
• Adults and children who have chronic pulmonary (including asthma) or cardiovascular (excluding insolated hypertension), renal, hepatic, neurologic, hematologic, or metabolic disorders (including diabetes mellitus);
• Persons who are immunocompromised due to any cause (including immunosuppression cased by medications or by HIV infection);
• Women who are or will be pregnant during the influenza season;
• Children and adolescents (aged 6 months through 18 years) who are receiving aspirin-or salicylate-containing medications and who might be at risk for experiencing Reye syndrome after influenza virus infection;
• Residents of nursing homes and other long term care facilities
• American Indians and Alaskan Natives
• Persons who are extremely obese

The flu vaccination is covered by most commercial insurance. Kiowa County Public Health accepts Medicaid, Medi-care, Rocky Mountain Health, Anthem BC/BS, CHP+, Cigna, Colorado Choice, Cover Colorado, United, and UMR. Kiowa County Public Health will also be offering both Pneumococcal Vaccines, PCV13 and PPSV23, for all adults 65 years and older as recommended by the CDC.   

County residents who are homebound and cannot physically attend a clinic may call the office to be placed on a list to receive a flu vaccination in their home.

For more information, contact Kiowa County Public Health at 719-438-5782. Below is the schedule for flu shot clinics around the community through October.