On Thursday, September 23, 2021, the county health department, the City of Charleston and the Kanawha County Commission announced a flu vaccine effort called Arms Across Kanawha. The goal was to get flu shots into arms before flu cases began, and to prevent a “twindemic” of flu and COVID-19 at the same time.
Health officials said flu cases were much lower in the 2020-2021 season. Masks, social distancing and other COVID-19 steps were the likely reasons. In 2021 most places no longer required masks, so officials warned that flu could return.
The plan
- The health department and community partners planned public clinics on Saturday, October 16, 2021, at Capital, Riverside, South Charleston, Sissonville, St. Albans, Nitro and George Washington high schools.
- A clinic at Coonskin Park took the place of a Herbert Hoover High School site.
- People could get a flu shot and a COVID-19 vaccine at the same visit.
- Until then, walk-in flu shots were given from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on weekdays at the health department on Lee Street, with no appointment needed.
The clinics ran from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Kanawha County Commission paid for the free flu shots. Partners included the City of Charleston, the Kanawha County Emergency Ambulance Authority, West Virginia Health Right, CAMC, Family Care Health Centers, Kanawha County Parks and Recreation and Kanawha County Schools.
For the results of the day, see Arms Across Kanawha. The year before, a similar set of drive-thru flu clinics was held at eight high schools on November 7, 2020.
This information is from 2021. It is kept here as a record and is not current advice. Check current guidance from the CDC or your doctor.