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Free Flu, COVID-19, and Monkeypox Drive-Thru Vaccination Clinic in Lake Charles October 10

Lake Charles, Louisiana – The Louisiana Department of Health’s (LDH) Office of Public Health (OPH) in Southwest Louisiana (Region 5) will organize a drive-thru flu vaccination clinic on October 10 at our Calcasieu Parish Health Unit (PHU) to encourage everyone to get their flu shot. COVID-19 vaccinations, including the primary series and the bivalent COVID-19 booster, as well as the monkeypox vaccine, will be available.

The Calcasieu PHU, 3236 Kirkman St., in Lake Charles, will host the event from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. All vaccines are free of charge. Though If you have insurance, your insurance will be billed. Bring a valid insurance card if you have private insurance, Medicaid, or Medicare. Existing COVID-19 vaccination cards will be updated.
Flu vaccine guidance

CDC and LDH recommend that all individuals ages 6 months and older receive a flu shot by the end of October. The flu shot is particularly encouraged among high-risk populations such as pregnant women, children below the age of 5, adults age 65 and up, and immunocompromised children and adults with chronic health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and asthma.

COVID-19 vaccine guidance

The CDC and LDH also suggest that everyone 6 months and older get vaccinated against COVID-19 and that everyone 5 years and older get a booster as soon as they are eligible. The new bivalent booster is now available and recommended for anyone aged 12 and over who has already completed their main series and is at least two months removed from their last dose.
For more information on CDC guidelines and recommendations for flu vaccinations, visit www.cdc.gov/flu/prevent/vaccinations.htm.

For more information on where to find flu and COVID-19 vaccines in Louisiana, visit vaccines.gov.

For more information on CDC guidelines and recommendations for COVID-19 vaccinations, visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/stay-up-to-date.html.

Monkeypox vaccine eligibility

People in Louisiana who match one of the following conditions will be eligible for immunization as of August 31, 2022:

• Gay/bisexual men or transgender people who are sexually active with more than one partner
• Anyone who is at high risk of monkeypox exposure. This includes but is not limited to people who:
• Are HIV positive or receive medications to prevent HIV infection (PrEP)
• Use IV drugs
• Give or receive money or other goods in exchange for sex
• Have significant, skin-to-skin contact with others in a social or sexual venue
• Work at establishments where sexual or intimate activity occurs (e.g., bathhouses, saunas, sex clubs, hotels)
• Clinicians or laboratory staff who are at high risk of occupational exposure
• Anyone who has been determined to be at high risk by a healthcare provider or public health official

Monkeypox, while not new, is a potentially serious viral illness caused by a virus not usually seen in the United States and spread through close personal contact. The disease can cause illness, including a potentially unpleasant rash that looks like pimples on your skin, blisters, or ulcers. Some patients experience a flu-like condition before developing a rash.

Early data from the CDC indicate that gay, bisexual, same-gender-loving, and other males who have sex with men account for a sizable proportion of cases. Anyone who has had close, personal contact with someone who has monkeypox, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, can become infected.

Monkeypox guidance

Monkeypox testing is now widely available. Contact your healthcare practitioner if you have symptoms and want to be tested for monkeypox. Anyone who does not have a provider or insurance can get tested at their parish health unit or community clinic: ldh.la.gov/phu

If your monkeypox test results are positive, you should remain isolated until your rash has healed, all scabs have dropped off, and a fresh layer of intact skin has grown.

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