With the COVID-19 pandemic still underway, and influenza season starting, it’s more important than ever that everyone do their part to help prevent the spread of respiratory illnesses.
Health experts urge everyone 6 months of age and older to get a flu shot this year and every year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends getting a flu vaccination in September or October or before flu activity begins.
Getting a flu vaccine will:
- Reduce the risk of flu and its potentially serious complications. Each year thousands of people die from influenza complications; tens of thousands are hospitalized, and millions become ill.
- Flu vaccination has been shown in several studies to reduce severity of illness in people who get vaccinated but still get sick.
- Getting vaccinated yourself may also protect people around you, including those who are more vulnerable to serious flu illness, like babies and young children, older people, and people with certain chronic health conditions.
- Flu vaccination helps protect pregnant people during and after pregnancy.
- Help protect frontline health care workers and conserve scarce medical resources needed to care for COVID-19 patients.
- Help “flatten the curve” of respiratory illnesses this fall and winter. The more people who are vaccinated, the more people are protected.
Two important things to remember about flu vaccination:
- There is no live flu virus in the injectable vaccine and it cannot cause the flu.
- According to the CDC, flu vaccines and COVID-19 vaccines can be given at the same time.
Flu vaccine is available now in the community, including at pharmacies, doctor’s offices, and grocery stores. Most health insurance plans cover flu shots for free. Learn about ways to fight the flu.
The Health Department is offering flu shots for children and adults at the following locations by appointment only:
- Annandale District Office — 7611 Little River Turnpike, Annandale
- Joseph Willard Health Center — 3750 Old Lee Highway, Fairfax
- Mount Vernon District Office — 8350 Richmond Highway, Alexandria
- Herndon-Reston District Office — 1850 Cameron Glen Drive, Reston
- Springfield District Office — 8136 Old Keene Mill Rd, Springfield
To make an appointment, call 703-246-7100, TTY 711.
Learn more about the benefits of flu vaccination.