Get Your Flu Shot at the Airport

What will they come up with next? Its flu season, and its holiday travel season, and time is flying and everybody is in a rush… why not take care of your Flu Shot at the airport? It'll be just one less thing you have to do before leaving on your timeshare vacation.

Harriet Baskas, special correspondent for USA Today, reported on the growing trend of health clinics in airports available for travelers who are glad to stop, roll up a sleeve, and get their annual flu shot with an attitude of "Now is as good a time as any."

As one passenger said, "Talk about convenient!"

This concept was first offered to travelers a few years ago at a medical clinic at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. Now you can get covered for the 2010 flu season at any one of 28 airports across the country.

"Making vaccinations available at the airport insures that even the busiest travelers can take steps to stay healthy and productive." said Jeff Hamiel, executive director of the Metropolitan Airports Commission for Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport

“We’re happy to offer this convenient service during the flu season,” echoed John L. Martin, Director of San Francisco International Airport. “We are committed to keeping our passengers and employees safe and healthy so that they can better enjoy their travels.”

San Diego International Airport is also making sure that people who are at the airport to meet incoming passengers can get their flu shots while they wait. The airport has located a flu shot kiosk outside security at the baggage claim area.

Some airport officials might be having second thoughts after a warning was made by Dr. Josesph Diaco to the Tampa International Airport governing board. Dr. Diaco warned that airline passengers given the vaccine shouldn't be stuck in a plane in case they have adverse reactions and need to see a doctor.

However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that life-threatening and other serious reactions to flu vaccines are rare. More typical symptoms are soreness where the shot was given, fever, aches and hoarseness. They usually begin soon after the shot and last a day or two, the agency says.

At most airport locations, people receiving a shot must fill out a short form asking for their medical histories, and warning of possible reactions. Nurses ask that customers taking their first flu shot to wait near the kiosk 15 to 20 minutes.

Most major airports in the U.S. now provide flu shots including Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International, Baltimore Washington International, Boston Logan International, LAX in Los Angeles, JFK in New York, and Honolulu International.

(Photo credit - usatoday.com)
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