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Highlands Today

Flu Shots Plentiful In Highlands County

Kathy Waters/Highlands Today

The Highlands County Health Department plans to start providing vaccines for the influenza virus beginning Oct. 26.

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By Douglas  Carman | Highlands Today

Published: October 12, 2007

SEBRING — Temperatures are starting to fall. The snow birds are coming in, air conditioners all over Highlands County will soon find rest after months of working non-stop ... and in the stores, one might hear an occasional sniffle and cough.

Flu season's coming, and according to the Highlands County Health Department, there will be plenty of vaccinations to go around.
Kay Mollenkopf, the department's director of nursing, said the health department will have 3,000 flu vaccinations available at their Sebring and Lake Placid clinics in addition to those offered by family doctors.

"We're not anticipating any kind of shortage," she said.
For seniors, this year, the health department's suggesting pneumoccal vaccinations as well as the flu shot to protect against pneumonia. Even in this hot climate, Mollenkopf said they're vulnerable.
Area supermarkets and pharmacies will offer flu shots as well as pneumonia shots. The Publix in Sebring will offer them today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. inside the store.

Joe Bustamante, the store manager at the Sebring Publix, said the flu shots are $30 and the pneumonia shots are $40, but patients with Medicare Part B can have them without a co-pay.
The health department will begin offering flu shots at its Sebring clinic Oct. 26, and offer the shots for $20 and $33, respectively.

Mollenkopf said the health department would first offer its vaccines to seniors living in the assisted living facilities before offering to the general public, since they live in close proximity where such diseases can spread rapidly.

While earlier up north, February actually marks the peak flu season for Florida.
"That's why we come along and say it's not too late to get your flu shot, even in January," she said.

WHERE TOGET FLU SHOTS
Today
Publix - 2824 U.S. 27 South, Sebring
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Oct. 15
Publix - 350 U.S. 27 North, Lake Placid
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Oct. 18
Publix - 1020 U.S. 27 South, Avon Park
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Oct. 20
Sav-On Pharmacy - 3610 U.S. 27 North, Sebring
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Oct. 22
Wal-Mart - 3525 U.S. 27 North, Sebring
3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Oct. 23
CVS Pharmacy - 1105 W. Main St., Avon Park
3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Oct. 24
Walgreens Drug Store - 3027 U.S. 27 South, Sebring
9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Oct. 25
Walgreens Drug Store - 93 U.S. 27 South, Avon Park
9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Oct. 26
Highlands County Health Department - 7205 S. George Blvd., Sebring
1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Walgreens Drug Store - 2 U.S. 27 South, Lake Placid
9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Publix - 350 U.S. 27 North, Lake Placid
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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