Blake Crane was a healthy, happy and active 16-year-old. A valuable member of the Marshfield High School baseball team and a teen who loved fishing and playing his Xbox, Blake had big dreams and aspirations. And then he got the flu. On February 17, 2020, Blake became one of 188 children to die from the flu during 2019-2020 flu season.
Blake’s parents were whispering in his ear when he took his last breath. And since that tragic day, the Cranes have made it their mission to make sure no one goes through what they went through.
In partnership with Waterfall Clinic, the Coos Bay School District is offering four free, voluntary flu shot clinics at its schools in the coming weeks, all dedicated to the memory of Blake Crane. The first will be Friday, October 21, from 9 a.m. to noon at Marshfield High School.
The remaining clinics will be:
October 24, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Madison and Sunset Schools
October 25, 9 a.m. to noon, at Marshfield High School and 1 to 3 p.m., at Marshfield Junior High.
October 27, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Eastside and Millicoma Schools.
All the clinics are free and open to all students and staff at Coos Bay Schools. All students must have a completed and signed consent form before the vaccine can be given.
Flu Facts
- Children have the most flu infections of any age group
- 80% of pediatric flu deaths are among children who were not vaccinated
- Among healthy children, the influenza vaccine reduces risk of death by the flu by 65%
- The flu vaccine cannot give you the flu