Beginning Friday, April 16, three vaccinations will be available at The Citadel: H1N1 flu, pneumococcal disease and herpes zoster (shingles) vaccine. The clinic will be located on the Citadel’s south side, top floor by JC Penney’s entry way into the shopping center and will be open from 2 to 5 p.m. Fridays and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays.”We are pleased to be collaborating with our community partners, the Visiting Nurse Association, Penrose-St. Francis Health Services Mission Outreach and The Citadel to provide these vaccines to prevent diseases in our community,” said Kandi Buckland, executive director of the El Paso County Department of Health and Environment.The grant-funded vaccines will be provided free of charge on a first-come, first-serve basis, while supplies last. Registered nurses will make assessments prior to providing immunizations, using vaccine recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The adult vaccinations (shingles and pneumococcal) are specifically for uninsured/underinsured people.* Shingles vaccine will be offered to people age 60 through 64.* Pneumococcal vaccine will be offered to people age 65 and older, as well as people age 19 through 64 who have chronic lung, heart, kidney or liver disease; weakened immune system; diabetes; alcoholism; HIV infection or AIDS; asthma; or are smokers.* H1N1 flu vaccine will be offered to anyone age 6 months or older.Shingles is a painful blistering skin rash caused by the chickenpox virus. After a person recovers from chickenpox, the virus stays in the body and can reappear years later in the form of shingles.Pneumococcal disease is caused by a bacterial germ that in high risk people can cause pneumonia, blood infection or other serious infections requiring treatment in the hospital.For additional immunizations offered to uninsured/underinsured adults and children, call 2-1-1, a service of United Way, or Penrose-St. Francis Mission Outreach Adult Immunization Program at 719-571-1117 or visit www.elpasocountyhealth.org.
