Flu shots are available locally

All adults and children are encouraged to get the vaccination

“It’s incredibly important that people get flu vaccines this year,” said Community Health’s Director of Quality Tracy Upton, RN.

In the Rutland area, Community Health has arranged weekday and Saturday clinics for adults and children, and offers an online appointment schedule for current Community Health patients. “Established patients can call to schedule an appointment or sign up online on our website,” Upton said, Friday, Sept. 25. “Flu vaccines are available to everyone, not only Community Health patients.”

Community Health has already started offering flu shots to patients who come to any one of the health network’s seven locations for their regular health and wellness visits. Established patients can schedule their own appointments online at chcrr.org and select from a list of open appointments.

Community Health facilities have dedicated staff for flu shot clinics on Saturdays in October and during the week. The Saturday flu shot clinics make the vaccinations available to the whole family, by appointment for children at Community Health Pediatrics, and as walk-ins for adults and children at the other locations.

Community Health is also working with area businesses and school districts to provide flu vaccines for groups of employees. Three school districts and several businesses are coordinating with Community Health to prepare flu shot clinics on site for staff members.

“October is the peak month for flu shots,” Upton said. “Last year Community Health administered over 10,000 flu shots, 5,500 of them in the month of October.”

The Community Health Saturday Flu Shot Clinic Schedule is as follows:

Saturday, October 3

Community Health Castleton, 8 a.m.-12 p.m., walk-in, no appointment needed

Community Health Pediatrics, 8 a.m.-12 p.m. Call 802-773-9131 for an appointment

Saturday, October 10

Community Health Rutland, 8 a.m.-12 p.m., walk-in, no appointment needed

Community Health Pediatrics, 8-11 a.m., Call 802-773-9131 for an appointment

Saturday, October 24

Community Health Brandon, 8 a.m.-12 p.m., walk-in, no appointment needed

Flu shots are also available during the week. Each Community Health practice has set aside times convenient for their community. Call any Community Health practice for the schedule of weekday flu shot clinics for their specific location, or call our main patient access center at 888-989-8707 for information about the flu shot clinics.

“No one will be turned away,” Upton said. “They may have to wait a bit but every one of our sites will make sure every person can get a flu shot.”

Community Health is Vermont’s largest Federally Qualified Health Center, a network of primary care, pediatric, behavioral health, dental and pharmacy services with offices in Rutland, Brandon, Castleton, West Pawlet and Shoreham. Community Dental offices are located in Rutland and Shoreham, Community Health Pediatrics is in Rutland and Behavioral Health services are available at all of our locations. Community Health Express Care centers are open every day and are located at the Rutland and Castleton Community Health Centers.