Columbia Health Department to offer flu vaccines

COLUMBIA — The Columbia Health Department will offer the flu vaccine at clinics on Monday and Tuesday, Health Department spokesperson Geni Alexander said.

Some facts about the clinics:

• The first clinic will be from 2 to 7 p.m. on Monday.
• The second clinic will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday.
• The vaccine costs $25 for those 19 and over.
• It is free for people 18 and under.
• The Health Department will not accept private insurance, but they will take Medicare and Medicaid.

Alexander said patients should bring a completed flu consent form, available here, to expedite the process. She said the wait is usually longer at the beginning of the clinic than at the end, but that they can usually get people in and out quickly — in some cases under five minutes. If there is any leftover vaccine, Alexander said that it will be saved for vaccinations in schools, which will start being given Oct. 11, and walk-in vaccinations, which will start when the Health Department receives more of the vaccine.