NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Karen Hammersmith with the Reno County Health Department said lots of people in Reno County are already getting their flu shots and the latest COVID booster.
"Looking at KS WebIZ, we can see that over 9,200 flu shots have been administered so far this season," Hammersmith said. "We have over 3120 bivalent COVID boosters administered in Reno County."
That's a total number, the Health Department itself has given almost 1100 flu shots and just over 700 of the latest bivalent COVID boosters. They have all the different varietals of flu shot that may be needed due to age or allergy.
"We carry just about everything," Hammersmith said. "As far as the flu vaccine, we have plenty of that in stock. We do have some free flu, too, to those that would qualify, no insurance, low income, that type of thing. We have a very limited supply of that."
They also have the latest COVID boosters. Most people have not had that yet.
"We have the Pfizer and the Moderna of the bivalent," Hammersmith said. "It just came out in September. When we go out and we ask people if they want their booster dose, they are like, well, I've had a booster. But, the bivalent, which carries two different strands, that actually just was approved in September, so if you haven't had a shot since September, you do not have the most current booster dose. If it's been two months since your primary series or two months since your last booster dose, then you would be eligible to get that new booster bivalent."
The bivalent booster is for ages 12 and over, and was created to help fight both the original strain and the Omicron variant.
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