With the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic still ongoing, it may be more important than ever to get your flu shot – and get it early. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that everyone get their flu shot within the next six weeks.
As seasonal flu overlaps with Covid-19, there may be a surge of sick patients, crowding doctors’ offices, and putting additional pressure on hospitals already treating Covid-19 patients. Researchers are still working on a Covid-19 vaccine, but there is already an effective flu vaccine.
Call 888-710-8220 to make an appointment at Healthy Connections clinics in Little Rock, Hot Springs, Mena, Malvern, Arkadelphia, Mount Ida, or De Queen. Visit www.healthy-connections.org/locations to find a location near you. Healthy Connections accepts Medicaid, ARKids 1st, Medicare, and most other health insurance. There is also a sliding-fee scale for patients without insurance who qualify.
Healthy Connections is giving flu vaccinations at all of its Community Health Network clinics throughout Arkansas. *Most patients are eligible to receive the flu shot at no cost depending on their health insurance coverage. Patients who are insured through the Affordable Care Act, Medicare Part B, or most other health insurance plans should be able to get the flu vaccine for free. However, before you go, remember that you may still have to pay for the office visit, depending on your coverage. Healthy Connections sliding fee patients will receive their flu shot for $25.
“During the Coronavirus pandemic, everyone needs to get the flu shot – and get it earlier in the year,” said Tony Calandro, CEO of Healthy Connections, Inc. “We are doing our part by making access to the vaccine easier for patients. Our clinics are open for convenient before- and after-work appointments, and even evening appointments at some locations.”
Influenza is a potentially serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and sometimes even death. Every flu season is different, and influenza infection can affect people differently, but millions of people get flu every year, hundreds of thousands of people are hospitalized and thousands to tens of thousands of people die from flu-related causes every year. An annual seasonal flu vaccine is the best way to help protect against flu. Vaccination has been shown to have many benefits including reducing the risk of flu illnesses, hospitalizations, and even the risk of flu-related death in children.
The CDC recommends getting the flu vaccine before flu viruses begin spreading in the community since it takes about two weeks after vaccination for the antibodies to develop in the body and provide protection against the flu. Children who need two doses of vaccine to te be protected should start the vaccination process sooner because the two doses must be given at least four weeks apart.
The CDC reports the benefits of the flu vaccination include:
- It can keep you from getting sick with the flu. During some flu seasons, the vaccine has been shown to reduce the risk of having to go to the doctor by between 40 and 60 percent.
- It can reduce the risk of flu-associated hospitalization for children, working-age adults, and older adults. In recent years, flu vaccines have reduced the risk of flu-associated hospitalizations among older people on average by 40 percent.
- It is an important preventive tool for people with chronic health conditions. The vaccination can reduce worsening and hospitalization for flu-related chronic lung disease, such as persons with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
- It helps protect women during and after pregnancy. Several studies have shown that in addition to helping protect pregnant women, a flu vaccine given during pregnancy helps protect the baby from flu for several months after birth when he or she is not old enough to be vaccinated.
- It can be lifesaving in children. A 2017 study showed that flu vaccination can significantly reduce a child’s risk of dying from the flu.
- It has been shown to reduce the severity of illness in people who get vaccinated but still get sick. A 2017 study showed that flu vaccination reduced deaths, intensive care unit (ICU) admissions, ICU length of stay, and overall duration of hospitalization among hospitalized flu patients.
- It can protect not only yourself but the people around you. This could include babies, young children, older people, and people with certain chronic health conditions.
Learn more about the flu and the flu vaccination by visiting www.healthy-connections.org/flu for more information.
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Do I have seasonal flu or Covid-19? Or is it just the common cold or allergies? It’s a question our Healthy Connections providers are frequently asked – especially right now.
Similar symptoms exist for all four conditions – especially Covid-19 and flu – making it hard to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone. Diagnostic testing can help determine if you are sick with a cold, the flu, Covid-19, or just experiencing seasonal allergies.
Call 888-710-8220 to make an appointment with a Healthy Connections primary care provider. Find a central or western Arkansas location near you by visiting www.healthy-connections.org/locations.
Similarities
Both COVID-19 and flu can have varying degrees of signs and symptoms, ranging from no symptoms (asymptomatic) to severe symptoms. Common symptoms that COVID-19 and flu share include:
- Fever or feeling feverish/chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Fatigue (tiredness)
- Sore throat
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Muscle pain or body aches
- Headache
- Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than adults
Differences
The differences are slight but can be telling. Flu viruses can cause mild to severe illness, including common signs and symptoms associated with both. Covid-19 can differ from the flu with other signs and symptoms that include a change in or loss of taste or smell.
Most people who get flu will recover in a few days to less than two weeks, but some will develop complications (such as pneumonia) as a result of flu, some of which can be life-threatening and result in death. Learn more about the flu at www.healthy-connections.org/flu.
People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. Learn more about Covid-19 at www.gettestedfree.com.
If you think you may have either the flu or Covid-19, Healthy Connections can test you at any of our central and western Arkansas clinics. Call 888-710-8220 for appointments. Or visit www.healthy-connectons.org/locations to find the clinic nearest to you.
The common cold also has some similar symptoms to Covid-19 and seasonal flu. Cold symptoms include a mild cough, sneezing, runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, short fever period, and body aches and pains.
Allergy symptoms may have some of those symptoms but rarely include a cough.
Flu Vaccination
At this time, there is no vaccine for Covid-19. But there is a seasonal flu vaccine. Getting a flu vaccine is more important than ever during 2020-2021 to protect yourself, your friends, and your family. It could also help reduce the strain on healthcare systems responding to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Flu shots are now available at the Healthy Connections clinic location near you. We’ve taken steps to make your visit safe and convenient, so you can feel good about protecting yourself and your loved ones.
Your flu shot may be done at no cost to you. If you are insured through the Affordable Care Act, Medicare Part B, or most other health insurance plans, you should be able to get your flu shot for free. However, before you go, remember that you may still have to pay for the office visit, depending on your coverage. Call 888-710-8220 for more information.
It is recommended that everyone 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine every season (with rare exceptions). Vaccination is particularly important for people who are at high risk of serious complications from the flu.
The flu vaccination can reduce flu illnesses, doctors’ visits, and missed work and school due to flu, as well as prevent flu-related hospitalizations and death.
Healthy Connections, Inc., is joining Community Health Centers across the nation in marking National Health Center Week (NHCW).
The campaign is an annual celebration to raise awareness about the mission and accomplishments of America’s Health Centers for more than five decades. This year’s observation is significantly different from years past due to Covid-19. This year we honor the innovative work of the health centers in addressing the pandemic and the memory of providers, staff, and beloved patients who lost their lives to the virus.
“At Healthy Connections we are driven by the mission that we can provide quality health care to the population in the areas we serve – a population that has been neglected in the past,” Healthy Connections CEO Tony Calandro said. “This year we were charged with providing mass testing for Covid-19 in both the areas we serve and beyond. We responded by providing more than 4,000 free Covid-19 tests outside of our clinics at pop-up locations from Little Rock to Texarkana.”
Healthy Connections, Inc., which is based in Mena, is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) with clinics in Little Rock, Hot Springs, Mena, Malvern, Arkadelphia, Mount Ida, and De Queen. The Healthy Connections Community Health Network includes Evolve Behavioral Health and Medication Management, Little Rock’s Health For Life Clinic, Mena’s Rich Mountain Chiropractic, and Healthy HouseCalls, a new home-visiting program scheduled to debut in 2020.
For most services, Healthy Connections accepts Medicaid, ARKids 1st, Medicare, and most private health insurance. There is also a sliding-fee scale for patients without health insurance who qualify. Medicaid patients may be required to switch their primary care provider to Healthy Connections before they can be seen.
Specialties offered include primary care, pediatrics, behavioral health, dental, cardiology, podiatry, chiropractic, wound care, addiction treatment, HIV/AIDS care, and hormone therapy for both men and women. Learn more about Healthy Connections at www.healthy-connections.org.
Community Health Centers are the largest primary health care system in the U.S., serving more than 30 million patients. More than 95 percent of health centers can test for the virus and have tested more than 2.4 million people since April. About 14 percent of tests are positive – far higher than the national average because many health center patients are America’s essential workers, people who harvest our food, stock grocery store shelves, or clean public spaces, and who do not have the luxury of telework or paid leave. Health centers serve one–third of all people living in poverty. Two-thirds of patients are members of racial and ethnic minorities.
“As soon as the COVID virus was identified in the U.S. our health centers moved quickly to offer telehealth and to set up thousands of testing sites across the country — both stationary and mobile — while putting their own lives on the line,” said Tom Van Coverden, President and CEO of the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC). “Their efforts have been critical to keeping non-emergency cases out of our already overburdened hospitals.”
The 236,000 dedicated staff at health centers have sacrificed greatly for their efforts to save lives: more than 11,300 have tested positive for the virus.
Van Coverden also noted the financial toll that the pandemic has exacted on health center operations. “Thousands of sites have been forced to close. Health centers need at least $7.6 billion to keep their doors open through November; and even more important stabilized operational long-term funding is needed beyond November. Congress has been helpful with limited funding, but, it’s not enough. Many health centers are still at risk.”
The theme for NHCW 2020 is “Lighting the Way for Healthier Communities Today and in the Future.” During this week of remembrance, health center advocates will light candles on behalf of community health leaders and patients who were lost in the fight against COVID.
This August, Healthy Connections joins the CDC in recognizing National Immunization Awareness Month.
In recent months, families have been doing their part by staying at home as much as possible to help stop the spread of Covid-19. As communities continue to open up and some children head back to in-person school, it’s important your child goes in for their well-child visit. These well-child visits are essential for many reasons including:
- Tracking growth and development including milestones, social behaviors, and learning.
- Discussing any concerns about your child’s health.
- Getting scheduled vaccinations to prevent illnesses like measles and whooping cough (pertussis) and 12 other serious diseases.
Healthy Connections has pediatrics clinics in De Queen, Hot Springs, and Malvern. Learn more about our pediatrics program at www.healthy-connections.org/pediatrics. Healthy Connections accepts Medicaid, ARKids 1st, and most other health insurance. There is also a sliding-fee scale for patients without insurance who qualify.
And if parents still need help paying for vaccines, talk to your doctor or nurse about the Vaccines For Children Program. This program provides free vaccines to children who are Medicaid-eligible, uninsured, underinsured, or American Indian/Alaska Native.
These can be challenging times for parents. But you still have the power to help keep your child healthy. Making sure that your child sees their doctor for well-child visits and vaccines is one of the best things you can do to protect your child and community.
If you’re not sure what vaccines are needed when, the CDC has created easy-to-follow schedules.
Click here for birth through 6-years-old.
Click here for 7 through 18-years-old.
-CDC
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Healthy Connections, Inc., has now provided more than 3,500 free Covid-19 tests throughout Arkansas as part of its mass testing program.
Healthy Connections, a Mena-based nonprofit community health network, has put on 27 events in 13 cities and 11 counties in Arkansas since late May. The result has been 3,544 free Covid-19 tests given. Most of these events were open to the general public and tested anyone who wanted to be tested, regardless of symptoms. These tests are in addition to the Covid-19 tests that have been given in Healthy Connections’ medical clinics.
Healthy Connections staff has spent more than 90 hours testing at these events with varying weather. Some came during heavy rainstorms while others came during extreme heat. During that time, the drive-through events tested patients in cars, trucks, SUVs, vans, motorcycles, lawnmowers, tractors, golf carts, and even some fire engines.
The most tests provided in a single day was 592 on July 16 at the Four States Fair in Texarkana. That event, combined with two events in Benton on July 15, also made for the largest weekly testing total of 840.
Healthy Connections has also spent some time in July testing businesses and their employees.
The next pop-up testing event is scheduled to be Saturday August 15, 2020, at the Farmers Market in Hot Springs. This testing event is open to the public and a part of Difference Makers of Hot Springs’ Community Resource Fair. Testing is scheduled that day from 3 to 6 p.m.
Until then, Healthy Connections is still testing patients at all of its medical clinics in Mena, Little Rock, Hot Springs, Malvern, Arkadelphia, Mount Ida, and De Queen. In-clinic tests are considered medical appointments and patients should call 888-710-8220 to schedule. Healthy Connections accepts Medicaid, ArKids 1st, Medicare, and most private health insurance. There is also a sliding-fee scale for patients without health insurance who qualify. Health insurance companies are waiving all copays for Covid-19 testing. All the information about testing can be found at www.GetTestedFree.com.
Healthy Connections clinics are open, safe, healthy, and here for the communities they serve. The Healthy Connections community health network is a federally-qualified health center (FQHC). Healthy Connections and Evolve Behavioral Health both accept Medicaid, ARKids 1st, Medicare, and most private health insurance. There is also a sliding-fee scale for patients without health insurance who qualify. Medicaid patients may be required to switch their primary care provider to Healthy Connections before they can be seen. Learn more about Healthy Connections at www.healthy-connections.org.
Healthy Connections will expand access for Covid-19 testing by taking our free testing pop-up tour to Benton and Texarkana this week.
Free drive-through testing sites will be available in Benton on Wednesday, July 15, and Texarkana, Ark., on Thursday, July 16. Miller County (Texarkana) will be the 11th Arkansas County to have received free Covid-19 testing.
At the pop-up testing sites, patients don’t even get out of their vehicles. The new “simple” Covid-19 test is much easier to receive and less painful than other tests previously given. No insurance information is collected and patients are through the testing area and on their way in just a few minutes. Results from these tests are being received on average in five to seven days.
Wednesday, July 15, 2020
7 a.m. to 11 a.m., River Center, 1800 Citizens Drive, Benton
12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., Ralph Bunche Park, 1300 S. East St., Benton
Thursday, July 16
9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Four States Fairgrounds, 3700 E. 50th St., Texarkana, Ark.
The Healthy Connections Free Covid-19 testing popup tour began on May 21 in De Queen and has seen more than 2,500 tests given in 11 Arkansas counties. This will be the second visit to Benton and the first to Texarkana. See the complete schedule at www.GetTestedFree.com.
Covid-19 testing is also being done at every Healthy Connections clinic. Copays are being waived for Covid-19 testing done in the clinic. Call 888-710-8220 to schedule appointments. The complete schedule and all testing information can be found at www.GetTestedFree.com.
Healthy Connections clinics are open, safe, healthy, and here for the communities they serve. The Healthy Connections community health network is a federally-qualified health center (FQHC). Healthy Connections and Evolve Behavioral Health both accept Medicaid, ARKids 1st, Medicare, and most private health insurance. There is also a sliding-fee scale for patients without health insurance who qualify. Medicaid patients may be required to switch their primary care provider to Healthy Connections before they can be seen. Learn more about Healthy Connections at www.healthy-connections.org.
