Flu Season Outreach

CAVHCS Veterans Within Reach For Flu Vaccine

Montgomery, AL --- Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System (CAVHCS) will never by mistaken for a fast-food restaurant, but recently eligible veterans were able to "have it their way," by simply driving up to the drive-thru to receive their annual flu vaccinations. And, fortunately for veterans, the Drive-up Flu Clinic is not the only approach CAVHCS is using to get veterans vaccinated.

"Every year we try to think of as many ways possible to make getting these potentially life-saving vaccinations easier for our veterans," explained CAVHCS Director Robert Ratliff. "The drive-thru service has been well received in the past, so we decided to offer it again at the Medical Centers in Montgomery and Tuskegee as well as our Community Based Outpatient Clinics in Dothan and Columbus, GA. We've also been conducting several outreach programs throughout Central and Southern Alabama to try to increase our veterans' opportunity to be vaccinated."

Each year CAVHCS vaccinates more than 10,000 veterans with the flu vaccine, but this year there's a decided push to educate and vaccinate veterans with the Pneumovax vaccine as well. "The Pneumovax vaccine bolsters the body's ability to fight off pneumonia," said Ratliff. "One Pneumovax vaccination lasts for several years, and considering the age group of most of our veterans, being better able to ward off pneumonia could save someone's life."

The CAVHCS Drive-Thru program serves to augment Central Alabama veterans' opportunity to get this year's flu vaccine. During Flu Season, veterans are offered the vaccination during routine visits. The Drive-thru service will be offered to eligible veterans again on December 15 at all CAVHCS Primary Care facilities.

CAVHCS, which has already administered more than 5,000 vaccinations this Flu Season, will also be conducting additional outreach programs in Ozark and Dothan on November 3 and 17 respectively.

"We recently announced an expanded sharing agreement with Army Lyster Health Clinic that will result in a new VA clinic on Fort Rucker," said Ratliff. "So, veterans in the Wiregrass Region who come in to get their Flu and Pneumovax vaccines can also sign up to receive primary care services at the VA Clinic on Fort Rucker, when it opens shortly after the New Year."