SEARCH NEWS:

 

Connecticut Casinos to Dispense Flu Shots

CONNECTICUT -- As reported by the Connecticut Day: "For the aging, hard-luck gambler, the nation's health organizations offer a bit of solace: a trip to the casino could be good for you.

"At the start of another flu and pneumonia season, several organizations have targeted casinos, with their high elderly populations, as high-volume vaccine centers. Studies indicate that the silver-haired leisure set accounts for as much as a third of all casino visits.

"'It's an ideal place,' Susan Peak, the wellness coordinator at the Visiting Nurse's Association of Central Connecticut, said of a casino. The association administered flu and pneumonia inoculations at Mohegan Sun Casino Wednesday afternoon. In the past, the one-day casino clinic has vaccinated as many as 600 patrons, a Sun spokesperson said.

"Promoting vaccinations for gamblers and employees is also good for business, casino spokesmen and health care workers say. The dynamics of the casino business — thousands of people in an enclosed space, frequent passing of chips and money and the many hands gripping slot-machine levers — make it easier for viruses to spread, health care workers say.

"Several casinos provide small incentives to entice patrons to get vaccinated, like free slot-machine tokens and coupons. At the Sun, gamblers had the option to pay for the shot with credits from The Player's Club, the casino's customer rewards program.

"...In Wisconsin, MetaStar, the company overseeing the quality of the state's health care programs, initiated the 'Shot and a Slot' program three years ago, said Kim Solberg, a clinical quality specialist. Other than churches, Solberg said, casinos are one of the most popular places for seniors to congregate.

"This year, six of Wisconsin's 17 Native American casinos are taking part in the vaccination plan, handing out $1 tokens with each shot.."

< Gaming News