According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), influenza activity often increases in October.
This month, Glenn County will be offering clinics that provide both flu and COVID-19 vaccines to residents. Two types of clinics will be available — those for the general public and those for seniors.
The clinics are run in collaboration with Northern Valley Indian Health and the Tri Counties Community Action Partnership (TCCAP). Laura Medina is a public health manager with Glenn County. She said there are benefits to offering both vaccines at the same time.
"Both the flu virus and the COVID-19 virus have similar symptoms. And a person can get both the Flu and COVID-19 at the same time,” she said. “So in order to try to avoid and protect everyone from both flu and COVID-19, we thought it would be good to offer both."
The clinics for seniors will be on Oct. 11 at the Glenn County Fairgrounds and Oct. 18 at Willows Memorial Hall. The community clinics will be held on Oct. 13 at the fairgrounds and Oct. 20 at Willows Memorial Hall.
Flu shots will be available as walk-ins, but COVID-19 vaccines require an appointment.
Through their partnership with TCCAP, the county has set up a hotline to help residents schedule COVID-19 vaccine appointments and receive transportation to the clinics.
The hotline number is 1-855-268-2227. More information can also be found at countyofglenn.net.