September 27, 2024
Media Contact: Daniel Hunsucker, population health coordinator,
LENOWISCO and Cumberland Plateau Health Districts, 276-328-8000
CUMBERLAND PLATEAU HEALTH DISTRICT OFFERS FREE DRIVE-THRU SEASONAL FLU VACCINE
LEBANON, Va. – The Virginia Department of Health’s Cumberland Plateau Health District will offer free seasonal flu vaccine at two special drive-thru dispensing clinics in the community. The vaccine will be available free to anyone 3 years and older on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. Drive-thru clinics are scheduled to be held:
- Friday, October 4 -Valley View Freewill Baptist Church, 4964 Dickenson Highway, Clintwood
9 a.m. – 1 p.m. - Friday, October 11 – old Magic Mart Shopping Center, 13 Tazewell Mall Circle, Tazewell
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Wearing clothing that is loose around the arm will enable the public health nurse to easily give the flu shot in the upper arm. This will prevent you from having to leave the comfort and convenience of your car.
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.
“Vaccination is the best way to prevent influenza and its potentially severe complications. This unique ‘drive-thru’ approach is proven to be a fast and efficient way to vaccinate a large number of folks in a short time,” said Reisa Sloce, director, LENOWISCO and Cumberland Plateau Health District. “When more people get vaccinated, there is less virus present in the community to potentially infect those who cannot be immunized such as infants under 6 months old; this helps protect everyone from this potentially deadly disease.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the timing and duration of flu seasons vary – they can occur from early fall to late spring. Receiving an annual seasonal flu vaccine is the best way to reduce your risk of becoming sick with the flu and spreading the virus to others. It takes up to two weeks to develop the vaccine’s full protection, and the coverage can last for up to a full year.
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 over 65 years of age, including residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities;
- People who have chronic lung or heart problems, including asthma;
- 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;
- Those who live with people in a high-risk group and healthcare workers ; and
- Travelers to countries outside of the U.S. may also need to consider influenza vaccination, even at different times of the year.
For more information, call the Dickenson County Health Department at 276-926-4979; the Tazewell County Health Department at 276-988-5585 or visit www.vdh.virginia.gov.