Upcoming flu clinics will offer free immunizations in Benton County, including a state-run clinic held in Rogers on Friday.
"Last year's flu season was the worst in Arkansas in terms of flu deaths in the last 40 years," said Dr. Dirk Haselow, state epidemiologist at the Arkansas Department of Health, in a written statement.
There were more than 29,300 influenza antigen tests reported to the Arkansas Department of Health between the end of September 2014 and the end of April, according to an end-of-season influenza report issued by the state. The report noted 73 deaths from influenza complications during the 2014-15 flu season.
The severity of the flu season is difficult to predict, Haselow said, and the Arkansas Department of Health recommends every person get a flu vaccine each year.
People younger than 5, people 50 or older and people with existing health conditions like asthma, diabetes or heart disease have the highest risk for flu complications, according to materials provided by the department.
Flu clinics scheduled through the Arkansas Department of Heath begin this week and will be held in every county.
In Benton County, a free flu clinic will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday at the Rogers Activity Center, 315 Olive St.
In Washington County, a clinic will be held from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 30 at The Jones Center, 922 E. Emma in Springdale.
State clinics will be provided to children and adults with no out-of-pocket expense. Insurance claims will be documented on site.
The Mercy Mobile Unit will offer free adult flu vaccines for ages 18 to 64 at a series of locations around Benton County.
The locations include:
• 9̶ ̶a̶.̶m̶.̶-̶1̶1̶ ̶a̶.̶m̶.̶Noon to 2 p.m.* Oct. 24 at Avoca Town Hall, 222 N. Old Wire Road.
• 1̶ ̶p̶.̶m̶.̶-̶3̶ ̶p̶.̶m̶.̶9 a.m.-11 a.m.* Oct. 24 at Garfield Town Hall, 14655 S. Wimpy Jones Road.
• 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Oct. 27; 8-11 a.m. Nov. 5; and 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Nov. 10 at St. Vincent de Paul food pantry, 1413 W. Poplar St. in Rogers.
• 3-5 p.m. Nov. 12 at Souls Harbor, 1206 N. Second St. in Rogers.
• 5-7 p.m. Nov. 12 at Eighth Street Hotel, 915 S. Eighth St. in Rogers.
• 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Dec. 8 at Samaritan Community Center, 1211 W. Hudson Road in Rogers.
• 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Dec. 15 at Samaritan Community Center, 1300 N. Thomas St., Suite G in Springdale.
NW News on 10/13/2015
*CORRECTION: A free flu clinic for ages 18-64 will be held through the Mercy Mobile Unit from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Garfield Town Hall and from noon to 2 p.m. at Avoca Town Hall on Saturday. The times were incorrect in this article.