LVHN

Free flu shots in November

Lehigh Valley Health Network will administer free influenza vaccinations to adults and children six months and older during two community sessions in November.

Shots will be all drive-thru at Coca-Cola Park, Allentown, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 6 and 7.

LVHN’s longtime drive- thru vaccination partner, Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom, will not be available to participate this year due to an extended operating season.

In the past 23 years, LVHN’s community influenza vaccination campaign has administered nearly 188,000 free flu shots and collected more than 152,000 pounds of food for area food banks. “Getting a flu vaccine is more important than ever this year because it can reduce the risk of illness, hospitalization and death from the flu,” Alex Benjamin, M.D., LVHN’s chief of infection control and hospital epidemiology said.

“Getting a flu vaccine can also reduce the burden on the healthcare system that continues to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Benjamin said routine vaccination should be deferred for people with a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis, regardless of symptoms, until they have met criteria to discontinue isolation. While having a mild illness is not a contraindication to vaccination, visits for these individuals should be postponed to avoid exposing health care personnel and other patients.

To reduce the spread of COVID-19, adults and children 2 years and older will be required to wear a face covering as will all those working the vaccination clinic.

LVHN is again partnering with area food banks and shelters to accept donations of unexpired, non-perishable food items during each of the drive-thru sessions. Food donations are optional and not required to receive a shot.

Those who choose to donate food are urged to check the expiration date and only bring items that have not expired and are non-perishable.

Volunteers also will be collecting items such as diapers, personal hygiene products such as toothbrushes, coffee pods and disinfectant. Donations will help those in need.

A vaccine information statement, consent form and map of the vaccination route for Coca-Cola Park are available at the website lvhn.org/flushot.

Those who want to receive a flu shot must bring a completed and signed consent form for each individual receiving a flu shot.

A standard dose of flu vaccine will be given to those 6 months to 64 years of age. Those participants 65 and older will be offered the senior vaccine.

According to organizers, vaccine supplies are abundant so the public should not be concerned about being able to get a shot.

Those planning to receive a flu shot during LVHN’s November drive- thru vaccination campaign are asked to:

•Review the vaccine information sheet and complete and bring the consent form for each person to be vaccinated. Forms may be found at the website lvhn.org/flushot. Forms also may be requested by calling 888-402-5846.

•Dress appropriately by wearing loose-fitting clothing for the shot to be administered in the arm and the leg of children under 2 years old.