Flu Shot Poisoning & Microchipping Touted as Airport 'Convenience' (Nov. 10, 2010)

[Editor's Note: Whew! It's hard to imagine that anyone in their right mind would actually want to to this. How dumb, trusting, naive, and unaware can you be and still be allowed to get on an airplane? What annoys me the most about those who are responsible for planning and implementing these Flu vaccination schemes is that they are, in most cases, just as dumb and unaware of the dangers of the witches brew of toxins in those vaccines as are the trusting souls who line up to get injected. If you don't know that vaccines, especially the Flu vaccine (now combined with Swine Flu toxins) is DAMAGING to your health and longevity, you need to READ more. If you don't know that all "flu shots" now include submicroscopic, microchip implants, then you need to READ more...Ken Adachi]

By Harriet Baskas, special for USA TODAY
http://educate-yourself.org/vcd/airportflushot19nov10.shtml
November 10, 2010

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/experts/baskas/2010-11-10-airport-flu-shots_N.htm

Robert Gibbs stays busy running his marketing agency and says finding time to nail down a doctor's appointment is getting harder and harder.

So on Monday, when he arrived from Chicago and saw that the Harmony Pharmacy store at New York's JFK airport was offering flu shots, he took off his heavy tweed jacket and rolled up his shirt sleeve. "I'd shopped there before and just thought 'Now is as good a time as any.' I didn't feel weird at all," said Gibbs, "In fact, getting a flu shot while running through the airport seemed pretty cool."

Cool and easy, says Spokane, WA-based Teresa Ide, "Talk about convenient! I would definitely get a flu shot at the airport."

First marketed to travelers by the medical clinic at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport seven or eight years ago, in-airport flu shots are being offered this year at clinics and temporary kiosks at close to two dozen airports stretching from Los Angeles to Miami.

"Flu costs Americans an estimated $3 billion or more each year in medical fees and indirect costs such as missed work," said Jeff Hamiel, executive director of the Metropolitan Airports Commission, in announcing the three vaccination stations now open at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. "Making vaccinations available at the airport ensures that even the busiest travelers can take steps to stay healthy and productive."

The 2010-2011 flu season began in early October and, according to the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the season will probably peak in January or February and possibly stretch into the spring. CDC recommends everyone 6 months or older get vaccinated and, unlike last year, says it's not necessary to get a separate shot to protect against the seasonal flu and the H1N1 virus. "The 2010-2011 flu vaccine will protect against an influenza A H3N2 virus, an influenza B virus and the 2009 H1N1 virus that caused so much illness last season."

At Chicago O'Hare, flu shots have been available at the airport medical clinic since August and at a stand-alone kiosk since Labor Day. "We don't know what the flu season will be like this year yet," says Dr. John Zautcke, Medical Director of the UIC-O'Hare Medical Clinic, "But the flu is a nasty disease that kills people who are old and sick and puts people that are young and healthy in bed for 4-6 days."

Zautcke says that in addition to frequent hand washing, covering your nose and mouth when sneezing and trying to avoid close contact with sick people – which can be hard to do on an airplane – "The best thing travelers can do to avoid the flu is get a flu shot."

Starting in November last year, there was a nationwide shortage of the seasonal flu vaccine because pharmaceutical companies switched to making vaccines for the H1N1 virus. This year, the vaccines are combined and there's no shortage. But Jeff Butler of Flu*Ease, the company operating flu shot kiosks at more than a half-dozen airports, says airport flu shots don't seem to be selling as robustly as they have in past years. "I don't know whether it's the mild weather, last year's frenzy over H1N1 or the fact that people now have access to flu shots in so many stores and corporate offices," says Butler.

"We're finding the same thing," says Rosemary Kelly, executive vice president of AeroClinic, which is offering flu shots this year at airports in Atlanta, Philadelphia, Charlotte, Baltimore and Minneapolis-St. Paul. "It just doesn't seem to be as hot of a topic this year as it was last year."

That isn't stopping some airports from expanding their flu shot offerings. This year, San Diego International Airport has five vaccination stations in operation throughout the terminals. Four stations are located post-security, but one station is in a baggage claim area to make it easy for meeters and greeters, and passengers picking up checked bags, to get vaccinated while they wait. And at New York's JFK Airport, Harmony Pharmacy is waiting for the final OK to open a second flu-shot station; this one in the center of JetBlue's Terminal 5, by the performance stage.

And the fact that the flu isn't in the news right now didn't deter Diane Callen from getting her flu shot at the airport. Callen, a customer service agent at the Las Vegas airport, was robbed over the weekend. "Let's just say I don't need to worry about my jewelry anymore," she said on Monday. After visiting the police station to fill out paperwork, Callen stopped at the Airport MD booth at McCarran International Airport before reporting for work. "It's one of those things I usually don't do unless it's convenient and I figured the way things are going for me, I'd better go get that flu shot."

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Airport	Location	Cost	Hours*	More information

Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International (ATL)	AeroClinic: Main Terminal Atrium, third level, pre-security. Kiosks: Concourses A, B and C.	$35	Clinic: Mon.-Fri., 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Sat., 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Kiosks: Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sat., 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Sun., 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.	404-684-6600; theaeroclinic.com

Baltimore/Washington International (BWI)	Kiosks: Pre-security, Atrium, between Concourse C/D and post-security, between Concourse A/B (Southwest).	$35	Pre-security kiosk: Wed.-Fri., 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Post-security kiosk: Wed.-Fri., 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.	410-859-7111

Boston Logan International (BOS)	Kiosk: Terminal A, post-security, top of escalators. Concentra Medical Center: On airport grounds at 1 Harborside Dr. (Take free airport bus #66 to Logan Office Center.)	Kiosk: $30 Concentra Medical Center: $25	Kiosk: Mon. - Fri., 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Through Dec. 26. Concentra Medical Center: Mon. - Fri., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.	800-23-LOGAN 617-568-6500; concentra.com

Charlotte Douglas International (CLT)	AeroClinic: Mezzanine level above the NASCAR store, post-security. Kiosks: Main food court and D/E Connector.	$35	Clinic: Mon. - Fri., 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Kiosks: Mon. - Fri., 8 a.m. to 4 p.m; Sat., 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Sun., 1 p.m. - 7 p.m.	980-216-5100

Chicago O'Hare International (ORD)	UIC Medical Center at O'Hare in Terminal 2, post-security. Kiosks: Terminal 1 (Concourse B and C), Terminal 2 and Terminal 3, post-security.	$35	UIC Medical Center at O'Hare: Mon. - Fri., 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sat.-Sun., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Kiosks: Mon. - Fri., 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.; Sat., 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Sun., 11a.m. - 6 p.m.	773-894-5100; uillinoismedcenter.org

Chicago Midway (MDW)	Kiosk just past security.	$35	Mon. - Fri., 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.	773-894-5100; uillinoismedcenter.org

Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International (CVG)	Flu*Ease kiosk: Post-security, food court.	$35	Mon. and Wed., 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Thurs. and Fri., 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.	859-767-3151

Cleveland Hopkins International (CLE)	Concourse C, Gate C4.	Free	Fridays in January, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.	216-265 - 6030

Des Moines International (DSM)	Lower terminal level, pre-security.	$20 ($30 for nasal mist). Must be at least 9 years old.	Mon.,Tues., Thurs. and Fri., 5:30 a.m to 7:30 a.m.; and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Through Nov. 30.	515-256-5100

Denver International (DEN)	Flu*Ease kiosks: Concourses A, B, and C (on the northwest sides of each center core).	$35	Mon. - Fri., 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.	800-247-2336

Honolulu International (HNL)	The Medical Corner: In the Airport Trade Center at 550 Paiea St.	$31.41 (includes tax)	Mon. - Fri., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m; Sat., 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.	808-836-3900, ext. 1100; themedicalcorner.com

Las Vegas McCarran International (LAS)	Airport MD: Pre-security, Terminal 1, south of A/B security checkpoint.	$25	Mon. - Fri., 8 a.m. to 6 p.m; Sat. - Sun., 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.	702-261-4463

Los Angeles International (LAX)	Flu*Ease kiosks: Post-security in Terminals 1, 3, and 5. Walkway between Terminals 6 and 8. Pre-security, food court in the Tom Bradley International Terminal. Reliant Immediate Care: 9601 S. Sepulveda Blvd. (By LAX entrance, across the Terminal 1 parking lot, next to the airport police.)	Flu*Ease kiosks: $35 Reliant Immediate Care: $25	Flu*Ease kiosks: Mon. - Fri., 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sat., 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Reliant Immediate Care: Daily, 24 hours.	310-646-5252 310-215-6020; reliantimmediatecare.com A courtesy van between the airport and the clinic is available weekdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Call airport First Aid from any terminal for pick-up.

Miami International (MIA)	Airport MD: Pre-security, across from Concourse H.	$25	Mon. - Fri., 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sat. - Sun., 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.	305-876 -7000, ext. 7

New York John F. Kennedy International (JFK)	Harmony Pharmacy: Terminal 5 (JetBlue) at Gate 7. Kiosk in center, by stage area. Flu*Ease kiosk: Terminal 3 (Delta) at Gate 18. Airport Medical Offices at JFK: 230-59 Rockaway Blvd.	Harmony Pharmacy: $29.99 Flu*Ease kiosk: $35 Airport Medical Offices at JFK: $30	Harmony Pharmacy: Mon. - Fri., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Harmony Pharmacy kiosk: Mon. - Fri., 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Flu*Ease kiosk: Mon. - Fri., 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Airport Medical Offices at JFK: Mon. - Fri., 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.	718-656-8370; harmonypharmacy.com 718-244-1644; airportmedical.com Shuttle pick-up available from airport weekdays 8:30 a.m. - 6 p.m., or take the B15 and Q10 city buses from airport.

Minneapolis/St. Paul International (MSP)	AeroClinic kiosks: Terminal 1/Lindbergh, post-security, by checkpoint 5 and Gate C2. Terminal 2/Humphrey at Gate H7.	$35	Terminal 1: Mon. - Fri., 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sun., 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Terminal 2: Mon., Wed. and Thurs., 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.	612-726-5555

Newark Liberty International (EWR)	Harmony Pharmacy: Terminal C at Gate 72.	$29.99	Mon. - Fri., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.	973-639 -9530; harmonypharmacy.com

Orlando International (MCO)	Solantic Clinic: Main Terminal; Terminal B across from Disney store, pre-security.	$30	Daily, 8 a.m. - 9 p.m.	321-319 0349; solanticorlandourgentcare.com

Philadelphia International (PHL)	Clinic: A/B Connector.	$35	Mon. - Fri., 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sat. - Sun., 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.	215-365-6301; theaeroclinic.com

Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX)	TBD	If area clinics have excess, PHX may offer free flu vaccines in late winter.	TBD	602-273-3300

St. Louis Lambert International (STL)	Flu*Ease kiosks: Terminal 1 by Starbucks; Terminal 2 between Gates 8 and 10.	$35	Mon. - Fri., 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.	314-890-1333

San Diego International (SAN)	Five kiosks: Three locations in Terminal 1; two locations in Terminal 2.	$25 ($22.50 for San Diego County residents)	Daily, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.	619-400-2404

San Francisco International (SFO)	Harmony Pharmacy kiosks: Terminal 3 at Gate 80; Terminal E (American) at Gate 67/68. SFO Medical Clinic: International Terminal, A side, pre-security.	Harmony Pharmacy: $29.99 SFO Medical Clinic: $25	Harmony Pharmacy: Mon. - Fri., 7 a.m.. to 5 p.m. Sat. - Sun., TBD SFO Medical Clinic: Mon. - Fri., 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sat., 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.	650-821-1313; harmonypharmacy.com 650-821-5600; flysfo.com


* Hours may change. Most open at least through December.

Harriet Baskas writes about travel etiquette for MSNBC.com and is the author of the airport guidebook Stuck at the Airport and a blog of the same name. Follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/hbaskas.