MCHS to offer flu vaccination appointments starting October 18th

Mayo Clinic Health System will offer flu vaccination appointments to patients 6 months and older across Southeast Minnesota, starting Oct. 18.

Patients can self-schedule a flu vaccination appointment through Patient Online Services or the Mayo Clinic App. Patients will be able to schedule an appointment by phone, beginning Oct. 4. Self-scheduling flu vaccine appointments is recommended, as this prevents wait times on the phone and preserves resources for COVID-19 care.

Now more than ever, Mayo Clinic and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend all people 6 months and older get vaccinated for flu.

Flu vaccinations will be offered at these locations:

• Austin
  West Building, 101 1^4th St. NW, room 1-04.
• Albert Lea
• Health Reach Building, 1705 S.E. Broadway Ave., rooms 1-112 and 1-113.

• Owatonna
  Southview Building, 134 Southview St.
• Rochester
  4^1st St. Professional Building, 3033 4^1st St. NW. Enter from the north side of the building.

In addition, patients can ask to be vaccinated for flu ― and COVID-19 at most locations ― during an existing appointment with their primary care provider at these Southeast Minnesota clinic locations:

• Adams
  908 W. Main St.
• Albert Lea
  404 W. Fountain St.
• Austin
  1000 First Drive NW.
• Faribault
  300 State Ave.
• Lake Mills
  309 S. 1^0th Ave. E.
• New Richland
  318 First St. SW.
• Owatonna
  2200 2^6th St. NW.
• Wells
  301 S. Broadway.

Patients also can call 507-434-9929 to schedule a flu-only vaccination appointment at one of these locations.

Patients who have tested positive for COVID-19, have respiratory symptoms or are under quarantine should delay being vaccinated for flu until they are no longer ill and their quarantine period is over.

A parent or guardian will need to self-schedule a flu vaccination appointment for patients 6 months to 12 years old using caregiver access to the child’s account. Patients 13 to 17 will need their own Patient Online Services accounts to schedule a flu vaccination appointment. When making an appointment, note that children 6 months to 8 years old need two flu vaccinations if it’s the child’s first-ever seasonal flu vaccination. The second vaccination is given at least four weeks from the date of the first. After getting vaccinated for flu, it takes about two weeks to develop antibodies to protect against flu. That’s why vaccination is recommended in early fall. If you are sick, stay home from work or school to prevent spreading illness to others.