Clinic Aims To Fight Flu

SIOUX FALLS, SD - Doctors say the best way to be protected against the flu is to get a flu shot.

People had the chance Tuesday when KELO-TV and Lewis Drug teamed up to offer a flu shot clinic.

The lines weren't long, but steady, as hundreds of people, including Kris Fuerstenberg, chose to arm themselves against the flu.

"Everybody should. Then everybody would stay healthy," Fuerstenberg said.

Some people even came from out-of-town to get their shot.

"We were coming to Sioux Falls and thought we'd take care of that at the same time," Betty Bouma said.

Bouma, who's from Luverne, says because of the shot, she hasn't suffered from the flu for forty years.

"We used to get the flu a lot before shots came along. Now that we've been getting flu shots, we've been very rarely getting the flu," Bouma said.

"Normally we see those who are on Medicare come. We'll see some younger populations, but it is mostly those 65 years and older," Lewis Drug Pharmacist Gretchen Schilling said.

While it is important for the elderly to get a flu shot, everyone should. During last year's flu season, 20 South Dakotans died because of the virus.

"Every year, they say there's thousands of deaths that occur from this disease so it's important to get protected against it," Schilling said.

That's why hundreds of people are putting an arm up against the virus.

"Now I know I won't get as sick," Fuerstenberg said.

The few seconds of pain are not only for themselves, but the loved ones around them.

"I think it's important for everybody to get the flu shot to keep from passing it from one to the other, especially for school kids, where they sometimes have to close down the schools because everybody has the flu," Bouma said.

However, officials at Tuesday's clinic are taking a shot at preventing that from happening.

The shot costs $28 at the clinic, but it's free with a Medicare card.  If you would like the mist instead, it's $10 extra.

The clinic goes until 9 p.m. at all Sioux Falls Lewis locations.