Free flu shots to be offered Tuesday morning in Indio
Riverside County health officials will be offering free flu shots in Indio on Tuesday morning at the Indio Senior Center, located at 45700 Aladdin St.
People can come by from 9 a.m. to noon while supplies last.
The clinic is part of a public health exercise aimed at training the responsiveness of health officials during a pandemic-level event.
Officials are warning it could be a difficult flu season. Last month marked the first Riverside County flu-related death of the 2019-20 season: a 4-year-old Perris boy who tested positive for influenza and died from underlying health issues.
There were nine influenza-associated deaths in Riverside County in the 2018-19 season and 23 during the 2017-18 season.
“If a public health emergency strikes, we need to be ready and vaccinations are one of the ways we can stop a future disaster in its tracks,” said Dr. Cameron Kaiser, the county’s public health officer. “Drills like this help us test our system and you can get a free flu shot as part of it.”
County health officials recommend the flu vaccine for everyone over the age of six months.
There have also been some increased concerns whether or not pregnant women should get a flu shot. According to the CDC, 65% of pregnant women do not get a flu shot. However, the CDC recommends that, unless otherwise indicated by a doctor, all pregnant women should get their flu shot during any trimester of each pregnancy and get Tdap during the early third trimester.
Additionally, staying home when ill and frequently washing hands are recommended to avoid the flu virus.
More information about the flu clinic can be found by calling the Riverside University Health System–Public Health at 951-358-7125 or visiting www.rivcoimm.org.
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