Free Flu Vaccinations for the Public

During the month of October, health districts on the Southside, Peninsula, Three Rivers and
Eastern Shore will hold several free flu shot clinics. The purpose of this exercise is to simulate a mass vaccination event in which the health departments train to vaccinate efficiently during a time of emergency.
The flu vaccination is the best way to prevent the flu. The Virginia Department of Health Office of Emergency Preparedness provides the free vaccine. No ID is required. Vaccines supplies are limited. Please wear a short-sleeved shirt or sleeves that roll up for easy access to the upper arm.

Here are the listed dates, times and locations of each event:

 Three Rivers Health District – Saturday, October 12, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. 10 years and older
Middlesex County Health Department, 2780 General Puller Highway, Saluda

 Eastern Shore Health District – Thursday, October 24, 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., 3 years and older
Tangier Medical Center, Tangier Island,

 Norfolk Health District – Saturday, October 19, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 3 years and older
Military Circle Mall, 880 N. Military Highway, Norfolk

 Peninsula and Hampton Health Districts – Saturday, October 19, 9 a.m. to noon, 6 months and older
Hampton Health Department, 3130 Victoria Blvd., Hampton
Peninsula Health District, 416 J. Clyde Morris Blvd. in Newport News

 Portsmouth Health Department – Saturday, October 19, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. 3 years and older Tidewater Community College, 120 Campus Drive, Portsmouth

 Western Tidewater Health District – Saturday, October 19, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 3 years and older
Isle of Wight Health Department, 919 S. Church St., Smithfield

 Virginia Beach Health District – Saturday, October 19, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., 3 years and older
Newtown Elementary School, 5277 Learning Circle, Virginia Beach

The Virginia Department of Health encourages everyone to stay healthy and protect others by getting a
seasonal flu vaccine. Also remember to always wash your hands frequently, cover your mouth and nose with
a tissue when coughing or sneezing and stay home if you’re sick so you don’t spread the illness to others.
The timing of flu season is unpredictable. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is predicting a
severe flu season this year. Last flu season was the longest in the past 10 years. Seasonal flu activity often begins increasing in October. It usually peaks between December and February, but can last as late as May.
The CDC recommend that everyone age 6 months and older get a flu vaccine by the end of October. It takes
about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body to protect against flu virus infection.
For more information on the clinics, contact your local health department. For more information on seasonal
flu or the flu vaccine, visit www.vdh.virginia.gov/epidemiology/influenza-flu-in-virginia/ or
www.cdc.gov/flu/index.htm.