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(WWJ) The governor and other public officials are urging Michiganders to get a flu shot as early as they can this year to prevent a one-two autumn punch of coronavirus and flu cases filling local hospitals.
And Kroger is making it easier than ever to get one.
Two Detroit-area drive-thru clinics will take place on Sept. 12, 14 and 16 in Commerce Township at 3010 Union Lake Rd. and in Sterling Heights at 2260 18 Mile Rd. Vaccinations will be available from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Sept. 12 and 16 and from 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. on Sept. 14.
The program includes touchless in-store appointments and drive-thru vaccinations at community Flu Shot Centers in Commerce Township and Sterling Heights. Appointments for the drive-thru clinics are recommended, but are not required. All flu shot appointments can be booked online.
Kroger recommends that customers reserve a timeslot on Kroger’s website and plan to arrive at their scheduled appointment time to join the line of cars. A Kroger Health pharmacist will administer the flu shot safely and quickly, all while the customer remains in their own vehicle. In order to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, customers should also wear masks or protective face coverings while receiving their vaccine.
“With so many health facilities already overburdened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is more important than ever for all Americans to get a flu shot,” said Rachel Hurst, corporate affairs manager, The Kroger Co. of Michigan. “At our COVID-19 drive-thru test sites, we were able to assist thousands of people in getting a test in a short amount of time. By using that same model to provide flu shots, we hope to provide more customers with a safe, convenient option to get vaccinated.”
The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) estimates that during an average flu season, 8% of the U.S. population gets sick from the flu, with an average of 500,000 flu-related hospitalizations. Since March, more than 370,000 Americans have already been hospitalized as a result of COVID-19, marking the potential for a significant burden on the already taxed healthcare system. In addition, according to symptom lists published by the CDC and the World Health Organization (WHO), symptoms of COVID-19 and the flu are similar, which may create the potential for confusion, anxiety, and loss of productivity as schools and businesses work through their COVID-19 plans and protocols.
“It will be very difficult for people to determine the difference between flu symptoms and COVID-19,” continued Hurst. “That’s why it’s so important for Americans to get a flu shot this year. It not only has been proven to help protect against the flu, but may also help reduce misidentification as COVID-19.”
To receive a flu shot, customers and associates can make an appointment online. They can also complete their pre-visit paperwork online to reduce contact and promote physical distancing, and many insurance companies cover the flu shot with no co-pay.
Kroger Health is also helping employers address both COVID-19 and the flu via its COVIDCare Plus program, which includes an FDA-authorized COVID-19 Test Home Collection Kit and additional services such as vaccine clinics, telehealth, and screening programs for personalized health management.