FRANKLINVILLE — Cattaraugus County Health Department officials are satisfied with the initial rollout of the 2023 influenza and COVID-19 vaccine clinics.

In the first two hours of operation Tuesday, the health department’s second clinic at the Franklinville Fire Department administered 42 flu vaccine shots and 24 for COVID-19. The clinic was scheduled to be open from 2 to 6 p.m.

That follows 22 COVID-19 vaccinations and 42 influenza vaccines given this past Thursday in Limestone.

Dr. Kevin D. Watkins, Cattaraugus County public health director, said updated Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID vaccines are designed to protect against serious illness from the latest COVID omicron variants.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended most people six months and older get the updated bivalent COVID-19 vaccine.

The health department again piggy-backed the COVID vaccinations on top of the popular influenza vaccine clinics every fall.

Martha Thorne of Franklinville was at the fire department on North Main Street around 3 p.m. for both the flu shot and the COVID-19 vaccine. She said she had used the health department clinics in the past, along with her physician and a pharmacy.

“This was convenient for me,” she said. “I can get both shots here. I’d rather get it over with.”

Registered nurse Vicky McKinney of the health department was happy to oblige Thorne, who like others waited for 15 minutes to see if there were any adverse effects.

Brooke Schnell, supervisor of the health department’s clinic, said there were a limited number of COVID-19 vaccination shots available at the Franklinville clinic.

She was pleased with the fact area residents were serious about protecting themselves and others from the flu and COVID-19, which is slowly rising in the county. “There’s a lot more interest in COVID-19,” Schnell said.

Last month the county recorded 42 cases of COVID infection and one death, Watkins said.

There are eight more influenza/COVID vaccination clinics scheduled this month by the health department:

• Oct. 11 — 2 to 6 p.m., Cattaraugus Ambulance, 211 S. Main St., Cattaraugus.

• Oct. 12 — 2 to 6 p.m., Randolph Municipal Building, 72 Main St.

• Oct. 17 — 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., John Ash Community Center, 112 N. Barry St., Olean.

• Oct. 18 — 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., SUNY Jamestown Community College Center Building-Student Union, 305 N. Barry St., Olean.

Oct. 19 — 2 to 6 p.m., Health Department Offices, 69 Iroquois Drive, Salamanca.

Oct. 24 — 2 to 6 p.m., Little Valley American Legion, 5899 Route 353.

Oct. 26 — 2 to 6 p.m., Ellicottville American Legion, 6500 Maples Road.

Oct. 30 — 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Free Methodist Church, 327 Pine St., South Dayton.

For more information, contact the Cattaraugus County Health Department at (716) 373-8050. For the deaf, hard of hearing, and speech disabled call the NY Relay Service at 7-1-1 (Voice or TTY).

The updated COVID vaccinations will be billed to individuals’ insurance companies because the federal government no longer provides free vaccines, Watkins said.

There is a $25 charge if insurance is not billed. Watkins said there are provisions for the uninsured and underinsured to get the vaccine at no cost.

The following insurance plans are accepted: Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Fidelis, Independent Health, Medicare, Medicaid, Molina, Univera and United Healthcare. The Empire Plan is not accepted.

To schedule an appointment for the updated COVID-19 vaccines, call the health department at (716) 701-3439.