Flu Shots Offered at Sedgwick County Health Department

(Sedgwick County, Kan.)  – Flu shots are the best way to protect yourself and others from becoming ill with the flu (influenza). Sedgwick County Health Department (SCHD) will begin offering flu shots today. Now is the time to be vaccinated as flu cases generally start to increase in October and November.

The SCHD flu shots are offered at no cost to uninsured adults, uninsured children, children covered under the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and Medicaid (Aetna, Sunflower, or United Healthcare).

Residents who qualify may visit the SCHD’s Main Clinic at 2716 W. Central in Wichita. 
Flu shots are available at SCHD by appointment (316) 660-7300 or walk-in.

• Appointments:  Noon to 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and noon to 6:30 p.m. Thursday
• Walk-ins available:  8 – 11:30 a.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday

Residents who do not qualify for flu shots at the SCHD should contact their insurance company to find out where flu shots are covered by their plans and use the online flu vaccine finder at https://www.cdc.gov/flu/ (located at the bottom right corner of the page) to find the nearest location.

Anyone can get the flu. Influenza viruses spread from person to person every year through coughing, sneezing, and close contact. Flu strikes suddenly and can last several days. Symptoms vary by age and can include fever/chills, sore throat, muscle aches, fatigue, cough, headache, and runny or stuffy nose.

There is no live virus in flu shots, and the vaccine cannot cause the flu. The SCHD and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend a flu shot every year for anyone six months or older, unless directed by a physician. A flu shot can keep you from getting the flu, make symptoms less severe if you do become ill, and keep you from spreading the flu virus to your family and others, especially those unable to receive immunization.

To learn more about flu, please visit www.flu.gov.

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