News release by the Pittsylvania-Danville Health District
UPDATE ON JAN. 8
Due to the potential for hazardous winter weather this weekend, the free flu clinic originally scheduled for Saturday, January 11, at the Habitat Restore in Danville has been rescheduled. Pittsylvania-Danville Health District will continue to partner with the Danville-Pittsylvania County Habitat for Humanity to provide free flu vaccines on Saturday January 25, 2025, from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. at the Habitat Restore, 2805 Riverside Drive, Danville. For any questions regarding this rescheduled event, please call (434)766-9887.
ORIGINAL POST ON DEC. 30
The Pittsylvania-Danville Health District is partnering with the Danville-Pittsylvania County Habitat for Humanity to provide free flu vaccines on Saturday, January 11, 2025, from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. at the Habitat Restore, 2805 Riverside Drive in Danville.
This walk-up event will offer influenza (flu) vaccinations for everyone age 3 and older. A limited supply of free influenza vaccine will be available for this event on a first-come, first-served basis. A parent or legal guardian must accompany anyone younger than 18.
The purpose of these exercises is to simulate a mass vaccination event in which the health department and local agencies would work together so community members could be vaccinated efficiently during a time of emergency. Near Southwest Medical Reserve Corps volunteers will assist health department staff with this exercise. The vaccine is provided by the Virginia Department of Health, Office of Emergency Preparedness.
“We’ve already documented cases of influenza this season in the area, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Virginia Department of Health recommend vaccination each year for everyone 6 months and older,” said Scott J. Spillmann, MD, MPH, director, Pittsylvania-Danville Health District. “Vaccination is the best way to prevent influenza and its potentially severe complications.”
All persons age 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 65 years of age or older, including residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities;
- People who have chronic lung or heart problems, including asthma; and
- 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.
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.
To minimize your risk of contracting or transmitting the flu, follow these simple steps:
- Get vaccinated;
- Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly, for at least 20 seconds;
- Cover your cough, either by using a disposable tissue or coughing into your sleeve, not your hand; and
- Stay at home when you are sick.
For questions about the flu vaccination event, please call (434)766-9887 or for more information, contact the Danville Health Department at (434) 766-9828 or visit www.vdh.virginia.gov/epidemiology/influenza-flu-in-virginia/.