Penn Highlands Clearfield planning for flu season

With flu season fast approaching, Penn Highlands Clearfield is hosting flu shot clinics at various locations throughout the region.

“As always, our goal is to educate the community about how they can protect themselves from any type of communicable disease, including the flu. There are two important ways to do that: one is to have an annual flu shot, and the other is to practice healthy habits like hand washing, proper cough etiquette and good nutrition,” stated Jennifer Sunseri, infection control/employee health nurse.

Penn Highlands Clearfield has a task force whose goal is to build on the hospital’s past success in providing flu shots to the community. Members include Sunseri; Michelle Bennett, Pharm.D., director of pharmacy; Rose Lloyd, service line manager; Karen Warfield, home care director; Rosemary Shannon, home health nurse; and Amy Duke, marketing director.

To reach its goal, the team plans to expand upon the hospital’s current immunization program. Among the activities planned include public flu shot clinics for adults and children (3 years and older).

Cost is $20 at the public flu shot clinics, but if you have insurance coverage for the flu shot, such as Medicare Part B, Medicaid or Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, please bring your cards with you and insurance will be billed.

Clinics will be held:
Oct. 3 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Leyo’s Supermarket, 1564 State St., Coalport
Oct. 4 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Curwensville Community Center, 11 Stadium Drive, Curwensville
Oct. 6 from 3-7 p.m., Glen Richey Firehall, 86 Firehouse Road, Glen Richey
Oct. 6 from 10 a.m. – noon, Houtzdale Family Service Center, 40 Terrace Dr., Houtzdale
Oct. 7 from 3-7 p.m., Madera EMS, 2720 Main St, Madera
Oct. 7 from 1-3 p.m., Clearfield County Area Agency on Aging, 103 N. Front St., Clearfield
Oct. 18 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Mount Nittany Middle School, 656 Brandywine Dr., State College
Oct. 22 from 9:30-11:30 a.m., Kylertown Center for Active Living, 70 Senior Dr., Kylertown
Oct. 22 from 12:30-1:30 p.m., Karthaus Center for Active Living, 975 Market St., Karthaus
Oct. 23 from 9-11:30 a.m., Coalport Center for Active Living, 850 R. Main St., Coalport
Oct. 23 from 1-2 p.m., Mahaffey Center for Active Living, 958 Market St., Mahaffey
Nov. 4 from 8 a.m. – noon and 3-7 p.m., Penn Highlands Clearfield Home Health Building, 438 W. Front St., Clearfield

In addition to these clinics, Penn Highlands Healthcare physician offices will host flu shot clinics at their sites, with dates and times to be announced soon.

People who should get vaccinated are: children aged 6 months or older; pregnant women; people 50 years of age and older; people of any age with certain chronic medical conditions; people who live in nursing homes; household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu; household contacts and out-of-home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age; and healthcare workers.

Sunseri said there are some people who forgo having a flu shot because they believe that by having the vaccination, they might contract the illness.

“This is not true. The viruses in the flu shot are killed or inactivated, so you cannot get the flu from a flu shot,” she said.

Providing flu vaccinations is just one way Penn Highlands Clearfield is helping the community stay healthy. Another is through education: Sunseri and Duke are available for speaking engagements at local elementary schools about the importance of hand washing and proper cough etiquette.

To schedule a disease prevention program at an elementary school or pre-school, or to learn more about flu shot clinics, please contact Duke at 768-2827. Sunseri is also available to provide on-site flu shot clinics at local businesses. She may be reached at 768-2494.