The Fairfax County Health Department will again test their capacity to respond to a major public health emergency by providing free seasonal flu shots at Fairfax High School on Saturday, October 12, 2019.

Seasonal flu shots being offered are free to area adults and children ages 6 months and up. Shots will be administered starting at 9 a.m. on a first come first served basis while supplies last. The event coincides with the City of Fairfax’s 43rd annual Fall Festival which will offer shuttle bus service to and from the high school at 3501 Rebel Run to the festival site in Old Town Fairfax.

“This point-of-dispensing exercise is a great opportunity for the health department to simulate a pandemic flu event when we would need to provide vaccine to lots of people in a timely manner,” said Jesse Habourn, Public Health Emergency Management Coordinator. “For people attending the City of Fairfax’s Fall Festival it will also be an easy and convenient way to get vaccinated in time for flu season.

“There is a limited supply so we encourage people to come early.”

Volunteers with the Fairfax Medical Reserve Corps will assist health department staff as part of this statewide public health emergency exercise called “Cardinal Resolve.” The vaccine is provided by the Virginia Department of Health.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), influenza viruses typically circulate widely in the United States annually, from the late fall through early spring. Although most people who become infected with influenza viruses will recover without complications, influenza can cause serious illness and death, particularly among older adults, very young children, pregnant women and those with pre-existing medical conditions.

Getting your flu vaccine is the best way to protect you, your family, friends, and co‐workers from getting the flu. Other important prevention steps include practicing good hand hygiene by frequently washing your hands or using alcohol‐based sanitizers when water is unavailable; covering your coughs and sneezes; staying at home when you are sick and limiting your contact with others who are sick.

For more information about the flu and flu prevention, go to the Health Department website at https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/health/flu.

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