Health Officials Say Getting Flu Shot Even More Important This Year

Marion County health officials are encouraging residents to get a flu vaccine. 

Melissa McMasters, administrator of the immunization and infectious disease program at the Marion County Public Health Department, said getting a flu shot is even more important this season.

"We don’t have that COVID vaccine yet, but we do have a flu vaccine that is safe and works," McMasters said.  "So you can get that and that will help protect you from sort of a double infection."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the flu vaccine for everyone 6 months of age and older, and especially for pregnant women, people age 65 and older, and people with certain chronic medical conditions.

The health department offers special flu shot clinics in October on a walk-in basis at various locations in the city. Some of those clinics include;

Wednesday, Oct. 7
Old Bethel Church, 7995 E. 21st Street
9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 18
St. Gabriel Catholic Church, 6000 W. 34th Street
9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Thursday, Oct. 22
Englewood Christian Church, 57 N. Rural Street
4 to 6 p.m.

On Monday, Oct. 5, the Marion County Public Health Department, the City of Indianapolis, the Consulate of Mexico in Indianapolis, and the Eskenazi Health Ventanilla de Salud program, will launch the “Sleeve Up Indy” campaign focused on educating the community about the importance of the flu vaccine during COVID-19.

Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett and Dr. Virginia A. Caine, director and chief medical officer of the Marion County Public Health Department, will get a flu shot.