Looking for a COVID or flu shot before your holiday gathering? Here's how to find one now
The winter holidays bring family gatherings, cocktail hours and parties. But they can also bring more widespread COVID-19 and seasonal influenza.
The best way to prevent catching or spreading the flu and COVID are vaccinations, health experts have told The Dispatch.
The latest COVID boosters were designed to be "bivalent," meaning they'll target two strains of the virus —including the original version of COVID-19 along with the omicron subvariants BA.5 and BA.4. The flu shot is updated annually in an attempt to target the likeliest strain to circulate every fall and winter.
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The latest COVID booster is free and the flu shot is covered under most insurance plans.
Although it can take up to two weeks for shots to provide protection, health experts say some immunity can be more helpful than none.
The shots are available at various clinics and pharmacies around the Columbus area. Here's where Ohioans can schedule a last-minute COVID or flu shot before their holiday celebrations:
Vaccines at a local health department
Public health departments continue to offer both COVID and flu vaccines at regular clinics.
Columbus Public Health offers the shots every weekday at its headquarters at 240 Parsons Ave.
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People can stop in for a shot anytime between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Shots are also available at Columbus Public Health from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays, according to the agency's website.
Franklin County Public Health also offers vaccination clinics at locations around the county. An updated schedule of clinics is available online. Some clinics are by appointment only, according to the county health department.
Getting a shot at pharmacies
Another option for a COVID or flu shot is an area pharmacy.
Some pharmacies allow people to walk in without an appointment. But Ohioans looking to schedule something ahead of time can often get something on the calendar by going online.
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Stores that offer scheduling include:
Schedule shots at a CVS pharmacy
Schedule shots at a Walgreens pharmacy
Schedule shots at a Kroger
Schedule shots at a Meijer
Schedule shots at a Walmart
Getting a shot at a doctor's office
Columbus' three main health care systems are also offering shots for COVID and the flu.
In most cases, patients may be able to request a vaccination through their primary care doctor. They may also be offered one during a regular visit.
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Ohio State University's Wexner Medical Center offers the shot at various outpatient centers across the area. Patients can schedule a vaccination appointment through the online tool MyChart and non-patients can call 614-688-VAXX (8299) to schedule a time for a shot.
OhioHealth is offering pop-up clinics through December and patients can also schedule an appointment online or contact their doctor. Mount Carmel Health allows people to schedule either a COVID-19 booster or a flu shot online as well.
More ways to find vaccines
Along with local options, state and federal governments offer additional resources to help people find vaccines.
The Ohio Department of Health has an online dashboard that lists every COVID-19 vaccine provider in the state. The database lists each provider along with their contact information, location and website.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also offers a searchable vaccine database called Vaccines.gov.
The tool allows users to search for a specific type of COVID shot or flu vaccine by entering their ZIP code.
mfilby@dispatch.com
@MaxFilby
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: How to get a COVID or flu booster before the holidays
