GONZALES — Salinas Valley Health hosted a free flu clinic Saturday at the Taylor Farms Family Health and Wellness Center in Gonzales, with a total of 228 community members receiving vaccinations.
Karina Rusk, director of public relations and communications for Salinas Valley Health, was delighted with the huge turnout at the Oct. 10 event.
“We had wanted to provide at least 200 flu shots today,” Rusk said. “At today’s clinic, we provided healthy eating information and fun activities like giveaways and raffles but most importantly the flu vaccines. We have an early flu season this year and it is hitting the West Coast especially hard, and we have already had a flu death in the Bay Area. We don’t want to see people getting sick or hospitalized and the flu shots help prevent that. It is a perfect time for this clinic as we had planned for the month of October ahead of the holiday season when families gather and germs are easily spread.”
Longtime Gonzales resident Eric Jung was pleased that the event took place so close to home.
“This is nice that people can come here and receive the free flu shot,” Jung said. “We also received good health information, along with free vegetables and a good lunch.”
Mark Avalos brought his family to the clinic to the event for the flu shots and valuable information.
“We gotta keep the family happy and safe,” Avalos said. “The timing is good to have flu shots available here in Gonzales. We enjoy the convenience of coming here for the shots, the resources that are provided and the food.”
Salinas Valley Health provided several resources at the clinic, including a Live Well Project, the Cancer Resource Center with information on screening, and the Health Promotions Department had free resources available, such as the Walk with a Doc Program and the Mobile Clinic.
The City of Gonzales had its own information center, while the Food Bank for Monterey County provided a free taco lunch and a truck with fresh vegetables.
Salinas Valley Health will have another free flu clinic on Oct. 19 from 4 to 7 p.m. at Alisal High School in Salinas and on Oct. 25 from noon to 3 p.m. at Castroville Elementary School.
