Ohio Northern University’s HealthWise Pharmacy at 511 W. Lincoln Ave. in Ada is offering flu shots and COVID-19 boosters.
Specific clinics are offered on campus for the general public, with no appointment needed, although there is flexibility if those times are inconvenient for individuals. HealthWise Mobile Clinic, which serves Hardin and Allen counties at various locations, is also offering vaccinations. Clinic and outreach schedules are listed below.
Why get vaccinated?
“Getting a flu shot annually is important for everyone, to help reduce the risk of getting the flu and especially, to help reduce the risk of spreading the flu to others,” says Steve Martin, Pharm.D., ONU’s College of Pharmacy dean. “As many as 52,000 Americans die from the flu each year.”
Health officials recommend that every person over six months old get a flu vaccination this year and every year. “Different flu vaccines are recommended for people in different age groups and with different health conditions,” Martin explains. “The pharmacists at ONU HealthWise Pharmacy and our clinics will help you determine which vaccine is right for you. We provide flu shots to everyone who is eligible, and for most people, there is no out-of-pocket cost to be vaccinated.
“Covid continues to be a health problem throughout the country,” Martin says. “Since 2020, more than 95 million Americans have suffered from COVID-19 and over 1 million have died from the disease. We encourage everyone to get the primary Covid shot series, and if they’ve done that, to get a booster. The current boosters are different from the primary series, and provide protection against the Omicron variant that has caused so much illness around the world.”
“Vaccines help reduce the likelihood of catching either infection (flu or Covid), but they really help to reduce the chance that you’ll die from the disease,” Martin pointed out. “People who are vaccinated against the flu or Covid have a very small risk of hospitalization or death from those diseases compared to those who are not vaccinated. Importantly, people who are vaccinated have a much smaller risk of getting someone else sick with the infection compared to those who are unvaccinated.”
“Get vaccinated against both flu and Covid — for yourself and/or for your family and friends around you,” Martin emphasizes.
People 12 years old and older should receive a booster dose of one updated Pfizer or Moderna (bivalent) booster. HealthWise offers the latest bivalent boosters. There is no out-of-pocket cost to be vaccinated for Covid.
According to Michael Rush, Pharm.D., director of ONU HealthWise and pharmacy residency programs, the Ohio Department of Health is allowing healthcare facilities to preorder the Pfizer bivalent pediatric vaccine for children ages 5-11 in preparation for administering later this fall. People 12 years and older are recommended to receive one updated Pfizer or Moderna bivalent booster.
Rush adds, “Getting a COVID-19 vaccine after you recover from COVID-19 infection provides added protection” against the virus.
Those who are moderately or severely immunocompromised have different recommendations for Covid vaccines, including boosters.
Martin says flu and Covid shots may be given at the same time, “and in general, we recommend this,” he says. People can opt to receive them in the same arm so that the other arm isn’t sore.
Flu shot schedule (offered by the ONU student chapter of the American Pharmacists Association):
Thursday, Oct. 13: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., MacIntosh Center Activities Room
Thursday, Oct. 20: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., MacIntosh Center Activities Room
Tuesday, Oct. 25: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., MacIntosh Bear Cave
Tuesday, Nov. 1: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m., MacIntosh Activities Room
Thursday, Nov. 10: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. MacIntosh Activities Room
Thursday, Nov. 17: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. MacIntosh Activities Room
Flu shots are also available Monday through Friday from 4-6 p.m. at HealthWise Pharmacy. For these clinics, walk-ins are welcome, with no appointment necessary.
Covid clinic schedule:
Monday through Friday from 4-6 p.m. at HealthWise Pharmacy. For these clinics, walk-ins are welcome, with no appointment necessary.
Mobile Clinic and Outreach schedule:
Kenton Hardincrest: First Tuesday of each month, 12-2 p.m.
Kenton YMCA: First Thursday of each month, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Lima Public Library: First Friday of each month, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Kenton Seton Hall: Second Tuesday of each month, 12-2 p.m.
Dunkirk: Second Friday of each month, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Lima Our Daily Bread: Third Tuesday of each month, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Alger Food Pantry: Wednesday after the third Tuesday of each month (not always the third Wednesday of the month), 9-11 a.m.
Dunkirk Community Meal: Fourth Tuesday of each month, 4:30-6 p.m.
Bluffton Public Library: Last Friday of each month, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
If these clinic dates and times are inconvenient, the general public and ONU community can simply walk in to the pharmacy for either a flu shot, Covid booster or both.