Free clinic making flu vaccines available
Program to visit food distribution event, community center.
Miami County’s Health Partners Free Clinic is embarking on a project to make flu vaccines more available in the community starting with a visit to a Troy community center followed by doubling up with a food distribution event.
The project is beginning after the clinic received Ohio Department of Health authorization to order flu vaccines directly from the department and provide the shots to adults, said Justin Coby, executive director, Health Partners Free Clinic. For this program, an adult is defined as anyone 19 or older.
The first stop will be Saturday, Nov. 14, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Lincoln Community Center in Troy, where health screenings and shots will be available.
For this first clinic, Health Partners has at least 50 shots ready to administer and hopes to have an additional 300 by Friday from the Ohio Department of Health. “However, we are not guaranteed that delivery,” Coby said. “Moving forward, we will be able to maintain a large quantity on hand.”
The program is a pilot involving the state health department,
Health Partners and Cedarville University whose pharmacy interns will deliver the vaccine.
A drive through clinic is being planned during the Shared Harvest food distribution event scheduled Nov. 21 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Upper Valley Career Center in Piqua.
Providing the vaccine during the food distribution event requires “a fair amount of logistics,” Coby said. He added, however, that health clinic staff has volunteered at the food distribution events giving it a better feel for coordinating the activities.
“Folks will be provided forms to fill out while waiting in their cars in line for the distribution and, those interested in receiving the vaccine, will also receive the shot in their car. There will be no need to get out of a vehicle and our vaccinators will be wearing the appropriate PPE to protect the public,” Coby said.
To qualify for the vaccine and to receive the OK to conduct the program, Health Partners Free Clinic was required to go through an application process with the state including demonstrating the ability to store vaccine prior to administration.
The vaccine clinics will follow best practices for COVID19
precautions including asking those attending to wear a mask, maintain social district and be evaluated for symptoms.
Health Partners is interested to talking with community leaders interested in suggesting a location for a vaccine clinic. Anyone interested is asked to contact Coby at justincoby@healthpartners.org. There is no charge for the vaccine or administration. If anyone wants to make a donation to the clinic, they can visit healthpartnersclinic.networkforgood. com/
Contact this contributing writer at nancykburr@ aol.com.