Riley County Health Department will be hosting their 11th annual flu vaccination event, Oct-flu-berfest, on October 12, 2023, from 3:00-6:00 PM. The event will be held at the RCHD Family Child and Resource Center at 2101 Claflin Road in Manhattan. All ages are welcome! Vaccine recipients will be eligible to receive a free bag of popcorn, book, and mini-pumpkin (supplies limited). Each household will also be eligible to receive a $10 voucher for a mini farmer’s market hosted by A&H Farms (supplies limited).
Respiratory virus season is typically November – March, and it’s time to prepare.
“Making vaccinations easy to access and adding some fun to the process has been really helpful,” said Health Department Director Julie Gibbs. “Getting vaccinated benefits you, your family, and the community. Last year, we administered more than 300 vaccines at the event. We hope you can stop by and see us!”
Updated COVID vaccinations should also be available at the event.
“We are expecting our Moderna COVID vaccine shipment to arrive next Tuesday and hope to begin offering them later that afternoon. If all goes according to plan, both COVID and flu vaccines should be available at Thursday’s Oct-flu-ber Fest,” explained Public Health Clinic Supervisor Dr. Jacob Clarke, MD.
One dose of the updated COVID vaccine is recommended for all individuals 5 years and older. According to updated CDC guidelines, individuals in certain risk groups may receive additional doses with their health care provider’s guidance. For children ages six months to five years, vaccination is recommended, but the number of vaccinations are based on which vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna) they receive, as well as their age.
Flu vaccines will be free for everyone without health insurance via the CDC’s Vaccines for Children and Section 317 vaccination programs accompanied by a generous grant from the Memorial Hospital Association. Riley County will offer Bridge Program COVID vaccines to adults without insurance as those doses become available.
Likewise, there will be zero out-of-pocket costs for those insured by plans that cover vaccines and are contracted with RCHD. RCHD contracts with most major insurers in the region, excluding Ambetter, Cigna, ChampVA, and TRICARE Prime.
Please bring your ID and, if insured, please verify your coverage and bring your insurance card when arriving for a vaccine. If you would like to complete your paperwork ahead of time, just click here.
If you have questions about the event or how you can receive a flu vaccine, please call (785) 776-4779 extension 7600 for more information.
Vaccines and other services are also available at the Riley County Health Clinic, located at 2030 Tecumseh Road. Walk-in appointments are welcome, or you can call (785) 776-4779 ext. 7675 to schedule an appointment ahead of time.
