HEALTH NOTES
Free flu shots available
Oklahoma Caring Vans will offer free flu shots around the metropolitan area in December.
The flu is a relatively minor illness for most people, but can be serious for young children, older adults and people with chronic conditions. The shots are free for children aged 6 weeks to 18 years who are uninsured or eligible for Medicaid. American Indian children are eligible regardless of income. Parents must be present and bring their children’s shot records.
Upcoming locations and times are:
•NSO WIC office, 3530 N MacArthur, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday.
•Latino Community Development Agency, 420 SW 10, 8:30 a.m. to noon Thursday.
•OCCHD Fair Park, 210 Quadrum, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday.
To view the full schedule, go to oklahomacaringfoundation.org.
Hospital group installs officers
The Oklahoma Hospital Association’s board of directors for 2018 and 2019 took their seats Nov. 1.
The new officers include: David Whitaker, chief administrative officer for Mercy-West Community, as chairman; Jay Johnson, president and CEO of Duncan Regional Hospital, as chairman-elect for 2020 and 2021; Kandice Allen, CEO of Share Medical Center, Alva, as northwest region chairwoman; Lori Wrightman, president of Mercy Hospital Ada, as southeast region chairwoman.
Fed grants supports home visiting
Oklahoma received a $6.3 million grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration for the maternal, infant and early childhood home visiting program.
The program pays for home visits from pregnancy until a child starts kindergarten in counties with high rates of teen birth, poverty, infant mortality and low birth weight. Most participating families have incomes below the federal poverty line.