Montana VA Announces Flu Clinics for Veterans
Mineral Independent
The Montana VA Health Care System is excited to announce its flu clinic schedule at 14 sites across Montana.
Flu clinics and walk-in flu shots are available for Veterans in Anaconda, Bozeman, Billings, Cut Bank, Fort Harrison/Helena, Glasgow, Glendive, Great Falls, Havre, Hamilton, Kalispell, Lewistown, Miles City, and Missoula.
In this region, here are the most convenient locations with dates and times listed:
- Hamilton VA Clinic: 299 Fairgrounds Road (Suite A), Hamilton, MT 59840. Drive-Thru Flu Clinic (To receive a flu shot, all Veterans will remain in their vehicle and staff will come to them). Wednesday, Oct. 7 from 8-10 a.m.
Kalispell VA Clinic: 31 Three Mile Drive, Kalispell. Walk-in flu clinics will be held every Wednesday from 8-10 a.m. through Oct. 28. No appointment necessary!
- Missoula VA Clinic: 2687 Palmer Street, Missoula, MT 59808. Missoula-area veterans have one remaining drive-thru flu clinic options. To receive a flu shot, all veterans will remain in their vehicle and staff will come to them. Wednesday, Oct. 7 from 8 a.m. until noon.
Missoula-area veterans can also come into the clinic’s C3 Lobby for walk-in flu shots through Oct. 19 during these days: Mondays from noon-4 p.m.; Wednesdays from 8 a.m. until noon. Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m.
By getting the flu shot, we set ourselves up to be as healthy as possible. Plus, the healthy habits that 2020 has normalized—covering your cough, washing your hands often, and staying home when you are sick—will continue to protect us all as we enter flu season.
The facts about influenza are that it can cause severe illness and is a vaccine-preventable disease. In 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated there were more than 410,000 flu hospitalizations and more than 24,000 deaths in the United States during the flu season.
“In minimizing our risk of influenza, we make a decision that is the most responsible and proactive for ourselves and our community. The flu shot protects ourselves, our loved ones, the healthcare professionals who care for us, and our most vulnerable populations,” said Executive Director Dr. Judy Hayman.
The flu will have the most negative impacts on high risk groups such as adults who are 65 years or older, pregnant women, people in nursing homes and long-term care facilities, individuals with medical conditions (such as heart disease, asthma, and kidney or liver disorders), and people weakened immune symptoms.
“People that receive the influenza vaccine have a reduced risk of being infected with influenza and becoming very ill as a result of infection. Reducing influenza-related illness and complications will help preserve resources for COVID-19 response. This makes getting vaccinated even more important this influenza season,” explained Infection Preventionist Christie Wilson.
Veterans have multiple options to get their flu shot this year. First, Veterans with scheduled VA appointments will be offered flu shots at the time of their appointment. Second, VA clinics across the state are holding drive-thru or walk-in flu clinics. Finally, Montana Veterans can find community locations to get no-cost flu shots at flu shot locations across Montana (via www.va.gov/communitycare/flushot.asp).
The Montana VA Health Care System's overall trust scores—which derive from Veteran rankings of their health care experiences—are at a historic high.
It serves over 47,000 enrolled veterans across Montana — an area roughly 147,000 square miles in size. Veterans are cared for by a staff of 1,400 at 17 sites of care across the state. One third of Montana VA employees are veterans.
For more information, visit the MTVAHCS website and contact Public Affairs Officer Katie Beall at Catherine.beall@va.gov or 447-7303.