UPDATE: The third day of the flu shot clinic Oct. 28 has been canceled due to inclement weather. The Victoria Fire Department is working to plan additional flu vaccine clinic events in the near future.
The Victoria Fire Department is partnering with local health care providers and nonprofits to provide a no-cost flu shot clinic for homeless and low-income residents 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Oct. 26-28 at Queen City Park.
The clinic will be funded by Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus funds provided to the City of Victoria through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. CDBG-CV funding is allocated for preparation, prevention and protection against COVID-19.
Protection against the seasonal flu is an important part of Victoria’s COVID-19 response because of the danger that the region’s health care resources could be strained by responding to two outbreaks at once, said Victoria Fire Department Chief Tracy Fox.
“Our goal is to keep our hospitalizations low by making sure as many people as possible get their flu vaccinations this year,” Fox said. “This clinic will help to expand access to vulnerable populations who wouldn’t be able to be vaccinated otherwise.”
Vaccinations will be provided by personnel from the Victoria Fire Department, Citizens Medical Center and DeTar Healthcare System. Mid-Coast Family Services and the Victoria Area Homeless Coalition are also helping to coordinate the event.
Signs will be posted at local nonprofits leading up to the event to inform residents about the clinic. In addition, Victoria Fire Department employees next week will visit Christ’s Kitchen to hand out flyers with information about the event in English and Spanish.
Under the conditions of the CDBG-CV program, people who receive vaccinations must fall below 80% of Victoria’s low- to moderate-income threshold, which ranges from $38,550 for a single-person household to $72,700 for a family of eight. To qualify, residents must provide two months’ worth of pay stubs and bank statements or, if unemployed, may provide proof of unemployment or self-certify that they have no income. Additionally, residents must not have access to no-cost flu vaccinations through health insurance or other means. The City of Victoria will work with its nonprofit partners to determine whether homeless residents meet the criteria.
For more information, contact the Victoria Fire Department at 361-485-3450.
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