The Pittsylvania-Danville Health District will offer a free seasonal flu vaccine clinic on Friday, December 27. The clinic will be held from 2 – 4 p.m. at the Pittsylvania County Health Department, 200 HC McGhee Drive in Chatham.
This drive-thru event will offer influenza (flu) vaccinations for everyone age 3 and older. A limited supply of free influenza vaccine will be available for this event on a first-come, first-served basis. A parent or legal guardian must accompany anyone younger than 18.
The purpose of these exercises is to simulate a mass vaccination event in which the health department and local agencies would work together so community members could be vaccinated efficiently during a time of emergency. Near Southwest Medical Reserve Corps volunteers will assist health department staff with this exercise. The vaccine is provided by the Virginia Department of Health, Office of Emergency Preparedness.
“We’ve already documented cases of influenza this season in the area, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Virginia Department of Health recommend vaccination each year for everyone 6 months and older,” said Scott J. Spillmann, MD, MPH, director, Pittsylvania-Danville Health District. “Vaccination is the best way to prevent influenza and its potentially severe complications.”
All persons aged 6 months or older should be vaccinated against influenza each year. Particular effort should be made to vaccinate people at higher risk for influenza complications, including:
Pregnant and postpartum women, or those who will be pregnant during the influenza season;
Persons 65 years of age or older, including residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities;
People who have chronic lung or heart problems, including asthma; and
People who have other serious medical conditions, such as diabetes, kidney disease, cystic fibrosis, anemia, cancer, weak immune systems (including those with HIV) or a seizure disorder.
Influenza, commonly called “the flu,” is a serious disease caused by the influenza virus that affects the respiratory tract. It is highly contagious and generally spreads from person-to-person when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The virus can be transmitted even before flu-like symptoms appear. A person usually becomes sick one to three days following exposure to the virus. Typical flu symptoms include fever, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, headache, muscle aches and extreme fatigue.
To minimize your risk of contracting or transmitting the flu, follow these simple steps:
* Get vaccinated;
* Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly, for at least 20 seconds;
* Cover your cough, either by using a disposable tissue or coughing into your sleeve, not your hand; and
* Stay at home when you are sick.
For questions about the flu vaccination event, please call (434)766-9887 or for more information or visit www.vdh.virginia.gov/epidemiology/influenza-flu-in-virginia/.
