FLINT – To help Genesee County residents stay healthy during flu season, Genesee Health Plan, along with several community partners, is hosting its 10th annual drive-thru vaccine event.
The event will be held on Friday, September 5th from 3pm to 6pm. Feb. 22 at the Genesee Health Plan office at 2171 S. Linden Road, Flint.
The Tdap and Hepatitis B vaccines, as well as the flu vaccine, will be available for all ages. Due to uncertainty about supply from vaccine suppliers, new COVID-19 booster doses will not be available at the event.
“In light of this pandemic, we want to be able to provide our community members with the education and information they need to make informed decisions about their health that are best for them and their families,” said Genesee Health Plan Communications Coordinator Shannon Ciszek .” told MLive-The Flint Journal.
Attendees can drive through the service area, roll down their windows, roll up their sleeves, and get a flu shot easily and safely provided by Walgreens Pharmacy.
Tdap, hepatitis B and influenza vaccines will be provided by the Genesee County Health Department at the GHP office.
Participants should bring their driver’s license or ID and insurance cards to the event, Ciszek said. She added that those without insurance “don’t have to worry.”
Ciszek said that since the drive-thru vaccine event began 10 years ago, participation has continued to increase and will reach a record of more than 200 people by 2022.
“It’s become very generational,” Ciszek said. “What we’re seeing is families are coming together like truckloads … to come to events and they’ve all gotten their flu shots.”
In addition to the vaccine, the Genesee Community Health Center mobile unit will provide Naloxone (NARCAN) training and training kits on site. This information will be provided to those who want to recognize an opioid overdose and safely administer reversal medications.
The RL Jones Community Outreach Center will also provide wardrobe and basic needs giveaways for participants of all ages. There will be free ice cream, a raffle for gas cards and back-to-school giveaways for four attendees.
ASL interpreters provided by the Flushing Communication Center for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing will also be at the event to assist deaf and hard of hearing people with communication barriers.
Ciszek told attendees that vaccination is not required to take advantage of other resources offered at the event.
“I want to reiterate that we believe in providing education to individuals to make informed decisions,” Ciszek said. “Whether you’re vaccinated or not, you can attend events and take advantage of (resources).”
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