With the flu season rapidly approaching, area residents can protect themselves with vaccinations offered at Borgess-Lee Memorial Hospital.

Flu and pneumonia vaccinations will be available at clinics sponsored by Borgess-Lee and administered by the hospital’s licensed nurses and medical assistants.

The health ministry will hold a drive-through clinic from 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Oct. 5. The clinic is open to the public. Cost of a regular injectable flu vaccine is $29.

“New this year at Borgess-Lee is a quadrivalent flu vaccine that is available in both the flu mist and the traditional injectable vaccine,” said Val Bauer, director of staffing and community programs, Borgess Staffing Solutions.

“This vaccine offers an additional level of protection that protects against four strains of the flu virus instead of three.”

Flu mist is intended for persons between the ages of 2 and 49 and costs $30.

The cost for the quadrivalent injectable vaccine is $38.

Borgess-Lee will again offer an intradermal flu vaccine with an ultrafine needle for adults between the ages of 18 and 64.

The intradermal needle is 90 percent smaller than the regular vaccine needle, yet works the same way as the longer-needle version.

Intradermal flu vaccine costs $38.

Pneumonia vaccine is $90. Groups identified by the Centers for Disease Control and should receive the vaccine are adults 19 to 64 years of age who: 1.) smoke; and 2.) have asthma.

A Fluzone High-Dose flu vaccine will also be available at a cost of $58 for people 65 years of age and older.

This vaccine supports persons with weaker human immune defenses, such as the elderly, which places them at a greater risk of severe illness from influenza.

The flu and pneumonia shots are covered by Medicare Part B, except for Medicare Plus Blue and United Health Care Community.

Priority Health and Blue Care Network insurance are also accepted as a private pay vaccine.

Persons who pay privately for immunizations will receive a payment receipt that can be submitted to their insurance company or flex plan for reimbursement.

For more information, contact the flu hotline at (269) 382-6735.