(COLDWATER) – Respiratory vaccine clinics will be held this month for the community.

The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency has COVID-19, Flu, RSV, Pneumonia and Pertussis vaccines available at all of their offices.

Respiratory vaccine clinics will be held in Coldwater and Hillsdale on October 23 from 9 AM until 3 PM, and in Three Rivers on October 24 from 9 AM to 3 PM.

Dr. Karen Luparello, Medical Director for the CHA says while no vaccine is 100% effective at preventing illness, they do decrease the potential for serious illness, hospitalization and death. She says this year’s flu and COVID-19 vaccines have been designed to provide protection from the currently circulating variants.

Luparello says now is a great time to schedule vaccinations at the CHA offices, with your primary care provider or your local pharmacy.

You should contact your insurance carrier to determine coverage. If a vaccine is not covered by insurance, or you have no insurance, or there is a co-pay, the CHA has programs which may offer free vaccinations. That includes the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program for infants and children through age 18, and the Adult Vaccine Program (MI-AVP) for persons 19 and older. These programs are offered to qualifying families or individuals who are not insured, or whose insurance does not cover the cost of certain immunizations.

To set up an appointment for a vaccine at your local CHA office, you can give them a call. In St. Joseph County, the number is 269-273-2161, extension 298. In Branch County, it’s 517-279-9561, extension 198. For Hillsdale County, the number is 517-437-7395, extension 398.