LVHN Offers Free Flu Shots at Clinics Throughout the Region

Flu season is right around the corner, and Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) is offering you a convenient way to protect yourself and your family with drive-thru and walk-in flu shot clinics throughout the region. For the past 25 years, LVHN has administered nearly 200,000 free flu shots through its annual community influenza vaccination campaign.

“Being vaccinated against influenza reduces the risk for illness, hospitalization and death from the flu,” says Alex Benjamin, MD, LVHN’s Chief of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology. “Like many respiratory illnesses, influenza can be spread by infected individuals who are not showing symptoms, and if we are not masking as often as we have in recent years, we could see increased transmission. Therefore, we strongly encourage everyone to make it their responsibility to get vaccinated.”

Dr. Benjamin says those with a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19, regardless of symptoms, should defer their flu vaccine until they have met criteria to discontinue isolation. While having a mild illness is not a reason to avoid vaccination altogether, people who are sick should avoid exposing health care professionals and other patients to their illness.

LVHN is offering several free drive-thru and walk-in flu shot clinics. A vaccine information statement, consent form and map of the vaccination routes for Health and Wellness Center at Hazleton, Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom and Lehigh Valley Hospital (LVH)–Hecktown Oaks are available below.

Please bring a completed and signed consent form for each person receiving a flu shot. Registration is encouraged for the flu shot clinics at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom and LVH–Hecktown Oaks.

LVHN walk-in flu shot clinic at Hayden Family Center for the Arts
Friday, Oct. 6, 2023
4-6 p.m.
31 W. Broad St., Hazleton, PA

LVHN drive-thru flu shot clinic at Health & Wellness Center at Hazleton
Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023
11 a.m.-3 p.m.
50 Moisey Drive, Hazleton, PA

LVHN drive-thru flu shot clinic at Mountain Healthcare Center at Tobyhanna
Saturday, October 14, 2023
9 a.m.-1 p.m.
100 Community Drive, Tobyhanna PA 

LVHN walk-in flu shot clinic at Health Center at Carbon
Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023
9 a.m.-noon
2226 Blakeslee Blvd., Lehighton, PA

LVHN drive-thru flu shot clinic at Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom
Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023
9 a.m.-3 p.m.
3830 Dorney Park Road, Allentown, PA

LVHN drive-thru flu shot clinic at Lehigh Valley Hospital–Hecktown Oaks
Sunday, Nov. 5, 2023
9 a.m.-3 p.m.
3780 Hecktown Road, Easton, PA

The flu shot is an important tool when it comes to preventing severe cases of flu. Terry Burger, RN, LVHN Administrator for Infection Control and Prevention, says a standard dose of the vaccine will be given to people 6 months to 64 years. People 65 and over will be offered the high-dose vaccine.

“Getting the vaccine remains the best way to protect yourself and those around you from getting the flu,” Burger says. Vaccine supplies are abundant so people should not be concerned about availability.

According to a CDC report released this month, the flu vaccine helped reduce hospitalizations by 52 percent in the Southern Hemisphere. The report noted that circulating influenza viruses were genetically similar to those targeted by the 2023-24 Northern Hemisphere influenza vaccine formulation, indicating the vaccine might offer similar protection if these viruses predominate during the coming Northern Hemisphere influenza season.