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Mahoning County Public Health schedules flu shot clinics

By Mahoning Matters staff and Tom Williams
A review of nearly 75 million COVID-19 patient records from around the globe found that those who received a flu vaccine up to six months before getting infected were less likely to have a stroke, experience sepsis or develop blood clots caused by the disease. (LM Otero | AP Photo, File)
A review of nearly 75 million COVID-19 patient records from around the globe found that those who received a flu vaccine up to six months before getting infected were less likely to have a stroke, experience sepsis or develop blood clots caused by the disease. (LM Otero | AP Photo, File)

AUSTINTOWN — Mahoning County Public Health will host multiple flu shot clinics this fall.

Ages for available flu vaccines are:

  • Age 6 months and up: quadrivalent (four flu virus strains);
  • Age 65 and older: High dose quadrivalent (four flu virus strains);
  • Age 18 and older: Egg free (cell-based) quadrivalent (four flu virus strains).

Several clinics will be at the MCPH office at 50 Westchester Drive:

  • Sept. 30, 9 a.m to 6 p.m.;
  • Oct. 7, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.;
  • Oct. 14, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.;
  • Oct. 21, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.;
  • Nov. 4, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

MCPH also will have clinics throughout the county. The schedule:

  • Weidemier House, Berlin Township Building, 15823 Akron-Canfield Road, 9 to 11 a.m. Oct. 4;
  • Woodworth Park, 225 Warren Ave., Beaver Township, 2 to 4:30 p.m. Oct. 5;
  • Canfield United Methodist Church, 27 S. Broad St., 1 to 4 p.m. Oct. 8;
  • Boardman United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, 6809 Market St., 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 13;
  • Poland Township Administration Building, 3339 Dobbins Road, 2 to 6 p.m. Oct. 18;
  • Mauthe Park, 156 Smithfield St., Struthers, 2 to 4 p.m. Oct. 20.

MCPH urges recipients to bring insurance cards, driver's licenses and Medicaid and Medicare cards so the cost of the vaccine can be billed. Most private insurances are accepted.

MCPH is a Vaccines for Children Program provider and will have limited opportunities for children who are uninsured or underinsured to receive the vaccine free of charge.

CDC recommendation for who should receive a flu vaccine:

  • Everyone age 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine every season.
  • People at high risk of developing flu-related complications:
    • Children age 6 months to 5 years;
    • Adults age 50 and older;
    • Pregnant women and women up to two weeks postpartum;
    • Residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities;
    • Chronic medical conditions such as asthma, COPD, cystic fibrosis, heart disease, blood disorders, diabetes, extreme obesity, kidney, liver or endocrine disorders, weakened immune systems due to medications and/or diseases such as cancer, HIV or AIDS or medications such as chronic steroid use or long-term aspirin use in people younger than age 19.

This story was originally published September 21, 2021 at 4:11 AM with the headline "Mahoning County Public Health schedules flu shot clinics."