The Central Shenandoah Health District will offer free seasonal flu vaccine to everyone ages three and up, at a clinic on Tuesday, Nov. 2 at Harrisonburg High School. The clinic will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the school’s gymnasium, at 1001 Garbers Church Road in Harrisonburg. Vaccine is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Those under age 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
“This clinic gives us the opportunity to practice our emergency dispensing plans, in the event of a situation requiring us to give medicine or vaccine to many people in a short period of time,” said Michael Keatts, emergency planner for the Central Shenandoah Health District.
Flu vaccine is effective. “Take time to get a flu shot,” said Douglas Larsen, M.D., director of the Central Shenandoah Health District. “The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend a yearly flu vaccine as the first and most important step in protecting against flu viruses.”
Flu vaccine is safe. “A flu shot does not cause flu illness. The viruses in a flu shot are killed. They’re dead, so they cannot cause a flu infection,” said Dr. Larsen. “The nasal mist vaccine contains a live, but weakened, virus. Both vaccines stimulate the immune system to protect you against the flu, but do not cause flu illness.”
For more information, call the Harrisonburg Health Department at 540.574.5100, or visit www.vdh.virginia.gov.
Edited by Chris Graham. Chris can be reached at [email protected].
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