MADIGAN ARMY MEDICAL CENTER, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. --- ‘Tis the season -- influenza season! This year, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, getting a flu shot is more important than ever. Healthcare resources could potentially become overwhelmed treating both patients with flu and ones with COVID-19. Beginning Tuesday, December 1 through Saturday, December 5, Madigan Army Medical Center will be hosting the Madigan 2020 Flu Shot Drive-Thru from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for all Madigan patients aged 8 and older at no cost. The Madigan Flu Shot Drive-Thru will be held across the road from the McChord USO at the Arrival Departure Airfield Control Group (A/DACG), Bldg. 1327, Troop Holding Area (THA), Bldg. 1330.
To minimize unnecessary exposure and ensure social distancing, the flu shot will be administered in the comfort and safety of each patient’s vehicle. Patients are asked to not have animals in their vehicle and to wear clothing that allows easy access to the shoulder area.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the following people should be vaccinated each year: all children aged six months to 18 years, adults aged 50 years and older, persons with underlying chronic medical conditions, all women who are, or expect to be, pregnant during the influenza season, health care workers involved in direct patient care, child care and elderly care workers, and persons at high risk of severe complications from influenza. Flu vaccines have been shown to reduce the risk of flu illness, hospitalization and death.
The Madigan Pediatric Clinic also has Influenza vaccines available for patients, aged 6 months to 35 months, who are enrolled in the clinic. Parents should call the clinic directly at (253) 968-3066, option #4, to schedule an influenza immunization appointment. If your child aged 6 months to 35 months has a routine well appointment scheduled, they can receive the influenza vaccine at this appointment and a separate influenza immunization appointment is not necessary.
JBLM Child and Youth Services (CYS) will also be providing flu vaccinations for children, aged six months and older, at the following dates and locations:
Dec. 7: North Fort CYS (3 to 7 p.m.)
Dec. 9: McChord CYS (3 to 7 p.m.)
Dec. 10: Cascade CYS (3 to 7 p.m.)
The flu vaccine is also covered by TRICARE with no cost-shares or copayments if it’s administered by a pharmacist at a participating network pharmacy or by a TRICARE-authorized provider. For more details, visit tricare.mil/fluvaccine.
For updates, follow Madigan on Facebook: Facebook.com/MadiganHealth, or visit madigan.tricare.mil.
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