By Diane Lee, Public Information Officer, Garrett County Health Department
The Garrett County Health Department will be offering flu vaccine by appointment only this season. There will not be mass clinics and walk-ins cannot be accommodated in order to comply with COVID-19 precautions.
In addition, it is anticipated that there will not be flu vaccinations done at the public schools. Parents are encouraged to schedule an appointment for their child using the information provided below, or to seek vaccine from their doctor or pharmacy.
To schedule a flu vaccine at either the Health Department’s Oakland location at 1025 Memorial Drive, or the Grantsville location at 28 Hershberger Lane, call 301-334-7697 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. and choose your preferred location. Flu vaccine administration will start the second week in October. We will also have a limited number of appointments later in the day to accommodate persons who need it.
Participants are asked to arrive just a few minutes before your designated appointment time. All persons must wear a face covering, observe social distancing of at least 6 feet from others, and hand sanitizer will be readily available.
Call to reschedule your appointment if you are experiencing any of these symptoms on the day of your appointment: fever, cough, sore throat, sudden loss of taste or smell, unexplained fatigue or muscle aches, or vomiting or diarrhea.
Clinics will not be held at senior meal sites, so persons who usually receive their flu vaccine at those locations should schedule an appointment as mentioned above.
Everyone is encouraged to get a flu vaccine as early as possible this year. So, if your doctor or pharmacy has it already, get it there.
Please bring your medical insurance card to your scheduled appointment. If you are uninsured, or your insurance does not cover flu vaccine, there will be no out-of-pocket cost to you.
Now is a great time to schedule a flu shot at the Garrett County Health Department. In fact, there is a new, very easy online registration process to schedule an appointment. In order to comply with COVID-19 precautions, flu vaccines are appointment only this year. Using this online system, patients can register themselves and their children.
This registration process is open for appointments beginning in November:
- Log on to bit.ly/mdfluvax. Note: Any field marked with an asterisk is required.
- Select desired date and location – clinics are available in Oakland and Grantsville. (If you want a Grantsville appointment, you may need to scroll down pretty far until you find one listed as Grantsville.)
- Appointment time will be chosen near the end of the process.
- Complete all required demographics fields, clicking “save and continue.”
- Email is a required field. No email? Make up a “dummy email” in order to advance to the next screen.
- Have insurance card ready to enter policy and group number. No insurance? Choose that drop-down option.
Write down the date and time of the appointment and remember to come get vaccinated!
Having problems and need assistance during the scheduling/registration process? Call the health department at 301 334-7697. A staff member will assist you over the phone
For more information, you may call us at 301 334-7770 or 301 895-3111.
