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If you live near Lynchburg, you may be eligible for a free flu shot.
The Central Virginia Health District and the Lynchburg Fire Department is teaming up to give out 400 free flu shots from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 20.
The shots will be given out at Lynchburg City Stadium, 3180 Fort Avenue.
Anyone living in Amherst County, Appomattox County, Bedford County, Campbell County, and the city of Lynchburg can get a free flu shot. The clinic is open to those ages 3 and up, and will be held rain or shine.
There Greater Lynchburg Transit Company will operate a shuttle from the Plaza transfer station and City Stadium.
Here is the news release from the City of Lynchburg:
On Saturday, October 20, the Central Virginia Health District (CVHD) and the Lynchburg Fire Department is partnering to provide 400 free flu shots to those who come to a special vaccination clinic at the Lynchburg City Stadium, 3180 Fort Avenue, from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. The shots will be administered in the stadium’s parking lot on a first come, first serve basis.
Anyone living in the Central Virginia Health District (Amherst County, Appomattox County, Bedford County, Campbell County and Lynchburg City) may receive a free flu shot. The clinic will be open to those older than three years old and will take place rain or shine. The Greater Lynchburg Transit Company (GLTC) will be operating a free shuttle to and from the Plaza transfer station and the City Stadium. Plenty of parking will be available at the stadium for those who wish to drive their own vehicles.
Individuals will be asked to complete a short questionnaire regarding allergies to eggs or to a component of the vaccine; whether or not they have had a serious reaction to influenza vaccine in the past; and if the person being vaccinated has every had Guillain-Barre`Syndrome.
“Influenza is a serious disease that everyone should be vaccinated for annually. The vaccine gives the vaccinated person the best chance to fight the flu,” said Director of the Central Virginia Health District Dr. Kerry Gateley. M.D., M.P.H., C.P.E.
According to Jason Campbell of the Lynchburg Fire Department, the clinic will give the department an opportunity to exercise its mass vaccination plan. “We worked with the Health Department and other City departments in the past to plan for a mass vaccination clinic for the H1N1 virus. We didn’t need to activate the clinic at that time. This is a much smaller operation, but it will provide us with the opportunity to fine tune similar operations for the future.”
Anyone living in the CVHD may receive the flu vaccine; however, some emphasis is being placed on encouraging low to moderate income families to take advantage of this opportunity.
“We know that it can be a struggle for our families with low to moderate income to get flu shots for the entire family. We encourage them to come take advantage of this opportunity,” said Campbell.
According to the Health Department, each year in the United States, approximately 200,000 people are hospitalized due to flu illness. Flu-related deaths range from 3,000 to 49,000 each year - averaging 24,000 - over the last three decades, according to the Health Department.
The Health Department indicates that annual vaccinations are especially recommended for the following high-risk groups:
• Persons at high risk for complications, including children ages six months to five years, pregnant women, people 50 years of age and older, people of any age with certain chronic medical conditions, and people who live in nursing homes and other long term care facilities.
• People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications, including household contacts of persons at high risk, household contacts and caregivers of children less than six months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated), and health care workers.
The Health Department also advises people to watch for symptoms that could lead to having the flu including fever, dry cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, headache, muscle aches, and extreme fatigue.