Also, #FluVaxJax campaign has free flu vaccine vouchers
For the fifth year, Florida Blue and Walgreens will offer a series of free COVID-19 and flu vaccine events in Jacksonville that are open to the public.
The first event will be 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Florida Blue Center at St. Johns Town Center, 4855 Town Center Parkway, and at the Family Winston YMCA at 221 Riverside Ave. YMCA membership is not required.
Free shots will also be offered at the same time Wednesday Sept. 29, Oct. 16, Oct. 27, Nov. 3 and Nov. 13 at the same locations.
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COVID-19 vaccines are available to anyone 18 and older, although some centers may have the Pfizer vaccine, which is for ages 12 and older. Flu shots are available for ages 3 and older. The two vaccines can be obtained in the same visit.
People with health insurance from Florida Blue and other companies should bring their insurance cards with them. Flu and COVID-19 vaccines are covered at no cost for people who do not have health insurance coverage.
Also, vaccines for pneumonia, shingles and TDAP, which protects against tetanus toxoid, reduced diphtheria toxoid and acellular pertussis, will be available. Those shots are covered at no cost by most insurance plans, but people without insurance will have to pay a fee.
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Anyone who gets a vaccine at one of the free events will receive a $10 Walgreens gift card.
Masks are encouraged inside the centers. Appointments are encouraged but not required. To schedule an appointment, go to scheduler.floridablue.com.
For more information call the Florida Blue Center at St. Johns Town Center at (904) 363-5870 or the one in Riverside at (904) 575-9099.
Meanwhile, the Duval County Medical Society Foundation has launched the 2021 #FluVaxJax campaign to increase the rate of influenza vaccinations on the First Coast. To request a no-cost flu vaccine voucher, go to dcmsonline.org/page/FluVaxjax.
Flu vaccinations not only decrease infection rates but also minimize the number of people who have to be hospitalized for the flu, expanding appropriate bed capacity for patients with COVID-19 and other ailments, according to the foundation. The foundation's 2020 campaign helped boost the adult vaccination rate to 48.5 percent, compared to the typical 36.9 percent.
For information about an accompanying pediatric vaccine campaign, go to vaxjaxkids.com.
bcravey@jacksonville, (904) 359-4109
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