9/14/2022 - To help stop the spread on the mutating COVID-19 virus and prepare for the upcoming flu season, Knox Public Health will conduct a drive-thru clinic offering both the seasonal flu shot and the COVID-19 bivalent booster. The two-for-one event will be held on Sat., Oct. 1 from 8 to 11 a.m. at the Knox County Fairgrounds. Administration of all vaccine will take place while individuals are in their vehicle.

Drive-thru participants can receive vaccine for the flu and the bivalent booster at the same time – in separate arms if they prefer – or receive just one of the vaccines.

There are no out-of-pocket costs for the bivalent boosters. Medicaid, Medicare and most forms of insurance will be accepted as payment for the flu vaccine. Otherwise, the cost for flu vaccine is $35 and can be paid in cash or by check. Clinic attendees need to bring a photo ID and medical/insurance card.

The flu vaccine offered at the drive-thru clinic is standard flu vaccine, not high dose.

The bivalent booster will be available for anyone age 12 and older and for whom it has been at least two months since they completed the primary vaccination series or had their last booster shot.

The primary vaccination series includes the two-shot  Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or the one-shot Johnson & Johnson/Jannsen’s vaccine. Drive-thru participants wanting the bivalent vaccine will need to bring their completed COVID-19 vaccine card to verify they are eligible for the vaccine. There are no out-of-pocket costs for the bivalent vaccine.

The bivalent booster is a combination shot. It contains half of the original vaccine recipe and half protection against the newest omicron versions, called BA.4 and BA.5, which are considered the most contagious yet. The intent of the combination vaccine is to increase cross-protection against multiple variants.

Attendees are advised to wear a short-sleeved shirt so that their arm is easily accessible to receive vaccine. Anyone can attend the drive-thru clinic, regardless of where they live, or where they received their previous COVID-19 shots.

Knox Public Health staff will be onsite throughout the drive-thru event to help with paperwork. Consent forms for either the flu vaccine or the Covid-19 bivalent booster can be completed ahead of time and downloaded from the agency website, knoxhealth.com. For more information, call 740-392-2200.

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