The El Dorado County Health Services Department, Public Health Division has announced the dates for its annual series of low-cost community flu clinics in South Lake Tahoe. The vaccine to protect against seasonal influenza will be offered at the flu clinics. The clinics will be held at the Senior Center located at 3050 Lake Tahoe Boulevard in South Lake Tahoe from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on the following dates: September 29, October 6, 13 and 27, and November 10. An additional flu clinic will also be held in Meeks Bay at the Meeks Bay Fire Department located at 8041 Emerald Bay Road from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. on October 20.

“It is recommended that everyone get vaccinated against the flu annually,” said El Dorado County Immunization Coordinator, Cathy Dunbar. “High risk individuals are especially encouraged to be vaccinated. High risk people include those over age 60, individuals with chronic health conditions, residents of nursing homes, pregnant women, parents of children under six months of age, children six months to four years of age, health care workers and caregivers. But anyone who wishes to be protected against the flu should be vaccinated as well. In addition to the flu shot, we are pleased to be able to offer nasal mist at our clinics for healthy people ages 2 through 49 who are not pregnant.”

The cost of the flu vaccine is $10, but the fee will be waived if an individual cannot pay. Standard Medicare Part B will be billed for people age 65 and older; Medicare HMOs and other insurance cannot be billed. Seniors must bring their Medicare card to the clinic for billing purposes and parents should bring their child’s immunization record. The Tdap (whooping cough) booster shot and Pneumonia vaccine will also be available at the clinics for $10 per shot.

People who are severely allergic to eggs or egg products, and infants younger than six months of age should not get the vaccine. Individuals should check with their healthcare provider if they are unsure whether they should receive the flu vaccine. Updated information about the community flu shot clinics, including dates and locations of flu clinics on the West Slope of El Dorado County, can be found online at www.edcgov.us/publichealth or on the County Flu Hotline at (530) 621-6188