HMSA begins annual flu shot clinics

The Hawaii Medical Service Association will kick off its annual community flu shot clinics at the Seniors' Fair Friday through Sunday at the Blaisdell Center exhibition hall.

Flu shots and pneumococcal shots will be provided from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Pikake Room.

Only flu shots will be offered at the other community clinics. They will be free to HMSA, HMSA 65C Plus and HMSA QUEST members 18 years or older while supplies last. Members must show their HMSA card and a photo ID.

There will be no charge for Medicare Part B beneficiaries who show their Medicare card and a photo ID. The shots will cost $40 for nonmembers.

Vaccinations are the best way to prevent flu, a respiratory illness that cannot be treated with antibiotics because it is caused by a virus, HMSA said.

Shots are recommended for people 65 and older, residents of long-term care facilities, workers who care for patients, pregnant women, children and youths 6 months to 18 years old, caregivers of infants under 6 months old and people with chronic conditions such as heart or lung problems, kidney disease, diabetes, asthma, cancer or HIV/AIDS.

But the shots are not for everyone, HMSA cautions: Those who had a bad reaction to a flu shot in the past, who have Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare form of nerve damage, or are allergic to eggs should consult their doctor.

Also, children younger than 6 months or anyone with a fever should not have a flu shot.

>> Oahu community clinics:

From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Longs Drug Stores, Sept. 23 in Moiliili and Mililani Town Center; Sept. 24, Kamehameha Shopping Center; Sept. 25, Longs-Hawaii Kai and Longs-Ewa Beach; Sept. 26, Longs-Pearl City and Kaneohe Bay Shopping Center; Sept. 27, Longs-Kapolei; Sept. 30, Longs-Manoa and Don Quijote-Waipahu; and Oct. 1, Longs-Pali.

From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Oct. 1, Don Quijote in Kailua and Pearl City; Oct. 3, Wal-Mart, Keeaumoku Street; Oct. 4, Leeward Community College; Oct. 7, Don Quijote-Honolulu; Oct. 9, the Ward Warehouse-Kakaako Room, second floor; and Oct. 10-11, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Kahala Mall.

From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Oct. 13, Marukai Wholesale Mart-Kalihi; Oct. 18, HMSA Center-Multipurpose Room, lobby; Oct. 20, Marukai Market Place-Ward Center, Farmers Market; Oct. 23, Walgreens-Keeaumoku Street; Oct. 30, Castle Medical Center-Wellness Center; Nov. 5, Longs-Waianae; Nov. 8, HMSA Center-Multipurpose Room, lobby; Nov. 14, the Ward Warehouse, Kakaako Room, second floor.

» Big Island clinics:

From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Oct. 9, Longs-Hilo Prince Kuhio; Oct. 14, Longs-Kailua-Kona; Oct. 15, Foodland-Waimea; Oct. 22, Kealakekua Ranch Center; Oct. 30, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Longs-Keeau; and Nov. 18, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., PrimeTime Wellness Fair-Kanakaole Tennis Stadium.

» Kauai:

Sept. 24, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., PrimeTime Wellness Fair, War Memorial Hall; Oct. 7, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Kukui Grove Center; Oct. 8, 8:30 a.m. to noon, Foodland-Princeville.

» Maui:

Oct. 2, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., PrimeTime Wellness Fair, Wailuku Community Center; Oct. 3, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Longs-Kahului.

» Molokai:

Nov. 6, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Molokai General Hospital.

Scheduling changes might occur, so people are advised to check hmsa.com or call 211 for an up-to-date listing of clinics. If the vaccine supply runs out, remaining clinics will be canceled.

HMSA's subsidiary, ISI Health Enhancement Services, will conduct the clinics.