Mass Flu Clinic planned for
Marquette County
Oct. 25 event is an opportunity to exercise county’s emergency
preparedness plan
The Marquette County Health Department, Marquette
General Health System, and Marquette County Emergency Management
are planning a mass flu clinic to be held late this month in Marquette.
The flu clinic will be held from 1 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday,
Oct. 25, at the Superior Dome on the campus of Northern Michigan
University. The vaccines are $25, with Medicare being
accepted (bring Medicare cards to the clinic). The vaccines will
be available for people of all ages in Marquette County, including
pediatric patients. Private insurances will not be billed.
A “drive-in” flu clinic, designed for those with limited
mobility, will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. in one of the Dome parking
lots.
Diane Bur, Director of Safety and Risk Management at Marquette
General, said with ongoing concerns about emergency preparedness
plans in an epidemic situation, the three above organizations
felt the mass flu clinic would be a good opportunity to provide
flu vaccines to the public while also practicing emergency preparedness.
“If, in the future, a man-made or natural epidemic should
occur that requires mass immunization, Marquette County will already
have exercised its emergency preparedness plan,” Bur said.
“We’re optimistic that our community residents will
help us test our emergency preparedness by participating in this
exercise.”
Those receiving vaccines are asked to access the Superior Dome
using the Presque Isle entrance, and will be directed to parking
locations by signs and staff.
To limit congestion and keep the lines somewhat short and manageable,
the following time schedule — based on a person’s
last name — will be utilized to keep traffic flowing:
· Names A through D: 1 to 2 p.m.
· Names E through K: 2 to 3 p.m.
· Names L through O: 3 to 4 p.m.
· Names P through Z: 4 to 5 p.m.
· Open Attendance: 5 to 7 p.m.
Randall
Johnson, MD, Director of the Marquette County Health Department,
said the mass flu clinic serves two primary purposes.
“First,” he said, “it provides an opportunity
to vaccinate large numbers of high-risk people who are susceptible
to increased health risks due to the flu. While the high-risk
population needs to be vaccinated, we’re hoping to provide
the vaccine to all residents this year, assuming we receive enough
vaccine.
“The second purpose,” he added, “is that this
one-day clinic will test our capacity to vaccinate large numbers
of residents very quickly."
According to Dr. Johnson, in the event of a flu pandemic or smallpox
bioterrorism attack, it’s estimated that 64,000 Marquette
County residents would need to be vaccinated within a short time
period.
“To do this, we need the support of the medical community
as well as volunteer nurses in the community,” he said.
As the event draws nearer, more information about vaccine availability
will be announced through the local media. A backup date will
be announced, if necessary.
For more information on the Mass Flu Clinic, call the Personal
Health Division at the Marquette
County Health Department at 475-7844.
