Genesis Expands Flu Initiative In Schools

DAVENPORT, Iowa – Thousands in the Quad Cities, including elementary school students in Davenport, will be protected against seasonal flu and pneumonia this winter by taking advantage of more than 50 Genesis VNA and Hospice flu vaccination clinics this fall.

For the first time, Genesis will be offering free flu protection to all 7,200 elementary school students in Davenport.  Free flu protection will also be available to the students and parents of students at additional schools in the Illinois Quad Cities.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended this week for the first time ever that flu shots should be considered elementary for all children ages 6 months through 18 years, except those with an egg allergy.  Last year, the recommendation was for all children ages 6 months to 5 years.
 
Genesis VNA and Hospice will be partnering with the Davenport Community Schools and Scott County Health Department to offer free flu shots to all Davenport elementary school students from Nov. 10-14.  Parents will be receiving information and a consent form in the mail.  Consent forms can be returned at parent-teacher conferences in October.

Last year, Genesis introduced a pilot flu program in two Davenport schools to determine whether there would be fewer student absences during the peak of the flu season.  Because the vaccine was not a perfect match with the strain of flu in Iowa last year, there were mixed results.

"We need additional data this year to make an assessment of how much of a difference a flu shot can make in keeping elementary students in school this winter," explained Michele Cullen, manager of community health, Genesis VNA and Hospice. "To make that assessment, we also need a closer match between the strain of flu and the vaccine.

"Elementary and intermediate school-age students are generally not considered to be in the high-risk categories like the very young and seniors. That doesn’t mean that they are immune, or that they aren’t carrying seasonal flu into the community.

“Kids of this age are very good at spreading flu, but most immunization programs have not targeted them in the past.’’

Genesis VNA and Hospice will kick off public flu clinics on Oct. 16 with three clinics, including one at the Adler Theatre in Davenport prior to the monthly Genesis Movies At The Adler program.  Flu shots will be available at 1 p.m. with a showing of the Alfred Hitchcock classic Rear Window following at 2 p.m.

The other clinics on Oct. 16 will be held at the Quad-City Times Senior Expo at Grace Lutheran Church Camp in DeWitt and at the Church of the Open Door, Clinton.

If you are not covered by Medicare, there will be a $37 cash cost for each flu immunization and a $40 cash cost for each pneumonia immunization.  Credit cards are not accepted at the clinics.

Medicare Part B covers flu and pneumonia immunizations.  Anyone with Medicare Part B coverage can present their card at any Genesis public flu clinic and Genesis VNA will file the claims.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), earlier is not better for receiving flu shots. In this region, the best time to receive flu protection is after Oct. 15.  Being vaccinated earlier could result in reduced protection against seasonal flu in March, April and May.

The CDC recommends that individuals in the following groups be vaccinated annually:

•  Children aged 6 months until their 19th birthday.
•  Pregnant women.
•  People 50 years of age and older.
•  People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions.
•  People who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities.
•  Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu.
•  Household contacts and out-of-home caregivers of children less than 6 months of age (these   children are too young to be vaccinated)
•  Healthcare workers.

Genesis Health System employees will be setting a good example for others this fall.  All Genesis employees will be required to have a flu vaccination unless they have valid medical or religious reasons for not having a vaccination.

2008 Genesis Public Flu Clinics
(Additional Dates TBA)
October

10/16 -- 1-3 p.m. -- Genesis Movie At The Adler, Adler Theatre, 136 E. 3rd St., Davenport; 16 --  9-11 a.m. -- Quad-City Times Senior Expo, Grace Lutheran Church Camp, DeWitt; 16 -- 12:30-6 p.m. -- Church of the Open Door, 816 13th Ave. N., Clinton;

10/17 -- 9 a.m.-noon -- Hy-Vee, 2900 Devils Glen Rd., Bettendorf;

10/18 -- 8-10 a.m. -- Cornerstone Baptist Church, 775 E. LeClaire Rd., Eldridge;

10/19 -- 9:15-10:45 a.m. -- First Baptist Church, 1401 Perry St., Davenport;

10/20 -- 7-9 a.m. -- Two Rivers YMCA, 2040 53rd St., Moline; 20 -- 11 a.m.-noon -- Garner Hall Meal site, 304 9th Ave., Camanche; 20 -- 3-6 p.m. -- DeWitt Community Center, 822 6th Ave., DeWitt; 20 -- 4-6 p.m. -- Bettendorf YMCA, 3800 Tanglefoot Lane, Bettendorf;

10/21 -- 8-11 a.m. -- CASI, 1035 W. Kimberly Rd., Davenport; 10:45-11:45 a.m. -- Welton Fire Station, Welton, Iowa; 4-6 p.m. -- St. Paul's United Church of Christ, Wheatland, Iowa.

10/22 -- 8 a.m.-noon -- Hy-Vee, 2200 W. Kimberly Rd., Davenport; 22 -- 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. -- Buffalo Meal Site, 329 Dodge, St., Buffalo; 22 -- 2-4 p.m. -- Genesis Heart Institute Atrium, 1236 E. Rusholme, Davenport;

10/23 -- 4-6 p.m. -- Genesis Medical Plaza, 2535 Maplecrest Road, Bettendorf; 23 -- 8:30-9:45 a.m. -- Grossman Center, Delmar, Iowa; 23 -- 10:15-11:30 a.m. -- Ascension Lutheran Church, Goose Lake, Iowa; 23 -- 12:45-1:45 p.m. -- Faith Lutheran Church, Andover, Iowa; 23 -- 2:30-3:30 p.m. -- Low Moor Community Center, Low Moor, Iowa;

10/24 -- 8:30-9:45 a.m. -- CALCO Community Building, 201 Main St., Calamus, Iowa; 9-11 a.m. -- Bettendorf Community Center, 2204 Grant St., Bettendorf; 24 -- 1-4 p.m. -- Hy-Vee, 3019 Rockingham Rd., Davenport;

10/25 -- 9-11 a.m. -- St. John's Lutheran Church, 1450 30 Ave., East Moline;

10/26 -- 9-11 a.m. -- Our Lady of the River, 28200 226 St. Place, LeClaire; 26 -- 9:30-10:30 a.m. --  Zion Lutheran Church, W. 8th and Marquette, Davenport;

10/27 -- 10 a.m.-1 p.m. -- Schnucks, 858 Middle Rd., Bettendorf; 27 -- 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. -- First Presbyterian Church, 200 S. 12th St., LeClaire; 27 -- 3-5 p.m. -- Viking Club, 1450 41st St., Moline;

10/28 -- 9 a.m.-noon -- American Legion, 106 S. Juniata St., Blue Grass; 28 -- 9-10 a.m. --Friendly House, 1221 N. Myrtle St., Davenport; 28 -- 11:30 a.m.-12:30 a.m. -- West Park Presbyterian Church, 4209 W. Locust, Davenport;

10/29 -- 8:30-9:45 a.m. -- Grand Mound Community Center, 510 5th St. Grand Mound, Iowa; 29 -- 7-9 a.m. -- Bettendorf YMCA, 3800 Tanglefoot Lane, Bettendorf; 29 -- 9 a.m.-1 p.m. -- Hy-Vee, 1823 E. Kimberly Rd., Davenport; 29 -- 10:30-11:15 a.m. -- Carroll Assistance Center, 102 Washington St., Wheatland, Iowa; 29 -- 12:45-2 p.m. -- Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 403 Pleasant, Lost Nation, Iowa; 29 -- 2:45-3:45 p.m. -- Charlotte Area Activity Center, Charlotte, Iowa;

10/30 -- 9:30-11 a.m. -- DeWitt Community Center, 822 6th Ave., DeWitt; 30 -- 12:30-6 p.m. -- Church of the Open Door, 816 13th Ave N., Clinton; 30 -- 1-3 p.m. -- Generations, 935 E. 53rd St., Davenport.

November
11/2 -- 9:30-11:30 a.m. -- First Presbyterian Church, 1702 Iowa Street, Davenport;

11/3 -- 9 a.m.-noon -- Hy-Vee, 2900 Devils Glen Rd., Bettendorf; 3 -- 4-6 p.m. -- Two Rivers YMCA, 2040 53rd St., Moline;

11/4 -- 8 a.m.-noon -- Vote and Vaccinate, Erickson Center, Clinton; 4 -- 2:30-6 p.m. -- Vote and Vaccinate, CCC Graphic Arts Center, Clinton;

11/5 -- 8 a.m.-noon -- Hy-Vee, 3019 Rockingham Rd., Davenport; 5 -- 8 a.m.-noon -- DeWitt Community Center, 512 10th St., DeWitt, Iowa; 5 -- 2-4 p.m. -- Genesis Medical Center, 2535 Maplecrest Rd., Bettendorf;

11/6 -- 9 a.m.-noon -- Hy-Vee, 1823 East Kimberly Rd., Davenport; 6 -- 2-4 p.m. -- Figge Art Museum, 225 W. 2nd St., Davenport;

11/7 -- 10 a.m.-1 p.m. -- Fairmount Library, 3009 N. Fairmount St., Davenport;

11/12 -- 4-6 p.m. -- CASI (Drive through) 1035 W. Kimberly Rd., Davenport;

11/13 -- 12:30-3:30 p.m. --  CASI 1035 W. Kimberly Rd., Davenport;

11/18 -- 8 a.m.-noon -- Hy-Vee, 2200 W. Kimberly Rd., Davenport;

11/19 -- 2-6 p.m.-- Garner Hall, 304 9th Ave., Camanche, Iowa;

11/24 -- 1-4 p.m. -- Fairmount Library, 3009 North Fairmount, Davenport.