Free flu shots, low-cost health services provided by St. Mary Medical Center

VICTOR VALLEY – Free flu vaccines are available to those who are uninsured or under-insured  at the St. Mary Community Health Clinics and at five locations served by St. Mary Medical Center’smobile clinic.

Appointments are recommended and can be made by calling (760) 946-8169. The health clinics are open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., – closed from noon to 1 p.m. at 18077 Outer Highway 18 S., Suite 100, Apple Valley; and Monday, Thursday and Friday in Hesperia at 17071 Main St.  (A third community health center will open soon in Adelanto.)

St. Mary also provides mobile health clinics at these locations:

·       Monday: Phoenix Academy, 20700 Thunderbird Road, Apple Valley

·       Tuesday: Market & Hardware, 32946 Highway 18, Lucerne Valley

·       Tuesday-Friday: Christ the Good Shepherd Church, 17900 Jonathan St., Adelanto

·       Wednesday: St. Joan of Arc Church, 15512 6th St., Victorville

·       Thursday: Family Life Church, 14411 La Paz Drive, Victorville

Based on the timing of the onset of this year’s flu season, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend being vaccinated as soon as possible. Children 6 months through 8 years may need two doses of the vaccine, and also should receive that first shot as soon as possible, the second four weeks later. 

The 2019 influenza season is well underway and residents are urged to get their annual vaccinations to help stem the spread of the potentially deadly virus. Children and the elderly are the most vulnerable to flu. Last year in California, virus killed 569, most of whom suffer from chronic illnesses.

Children 6 months through 8 years may need two doses of the vaccine, and also should receive that first shot as soon as possible, the second four weeks later. 

Flu vaccinations are among the free and low-cost services provided to the community through the St. Mary Medical Center community investment program. As a not-for-profit organization, Providence St. Joseph Health hospitals such as St. Mary invest proceeds from hospital services to meet the health needs of vulnerable populations – low-income families, the elderly, those with mental illness, immigrants and children in under-served communities.a

Care includes prenatal services, breastfeeding education, primary care for all ages, immunizations, wellness visits, chronic disease management including diabetes and hypertension, nutrition counseling, weight management, counseling services and sports physicals.