Getting Your Vaccines: Is Urgent Care an Option?

You’re about to travel internationally and you need certain vaccinations. Or maybe you want to get the flu shot before flu season arrives. Where should you go?

We ask Gretchen Brill, director of Urgent Care in Valley Health’s Southern Region, about Urgent Care as a potential option for your vaccine needs.

What vaccines do Valley Health Urgent Care Centers provide?

A limited number of routine vaccines are available at Valley Health Urgent Care Centers. The most commonly administered are:

• The flu vaccine
• Td (tetanus and diphtheria) vaccine
• Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis, or whooping cough) vaccine

Is a Valley Health Urgent Care Center the best choice for an individual’s vaccine needs?

It is important to receive most routine vaccinations from primary care practices and/or local Health Departments. These locations have the capacity to ensure proper vaccine follow-up as many vaccinations require more than one dose and adherence to a vaccine schedule. Urgent Care settings do not routinely provide follow-up care as it pertains to vaccinations.

Do I need an appointment, or can I just show up and ask for a vaccine?

Vaccination administration (Td, Tdap) is ordered by the treating Urgent Care provider based on clinical presentation and health administration guidelines. Patients may make a reservation online (vhurgentcare.com) or may come in on a walk-in basis. The flu vaccine can be administered during flu season on a walk-in basis.

Where should I get vaccinations for my future travel abroad?

Vaccinations needed for travel purposes are available through Valley Health Employer Health, which is located at our Urgent Care Centers (but not our Urgent Care Express locations). It is important to call in advance as this will allow us to collect important information regarding your travel to ensure that you receive appropriate vaccines for your destination. We will then assist you with making an appointment to ensure in-stock vaccine availability. If vaccines are not in stock, patients may be referred to local Health Departments. Vaccines necessary for travel may require more than one dose. Patients are encouraged to start the process of travel vaccinations sooner rather than later to ensure immunity.

Patients can refer to CDC.gov or the U.S. State Department website for recommended vaccinations for destinations of travel.