[Archived] Alexandria Health Department Offers Flu Shots

City Press Release


	City of Alexandria, Virginia Office of the City Manager Alexandria City Hall 301 King Street, Suite 3500 Alexandria, Virginia 22314-3211 www.alexandriava.gov Telephone: 703.838.4300 Fax : 703.838.6343

Oct. 6, 2003
PIO 160-03

Alexandria Health Department Offers Flu Shots to City Residents

Beginning Oct. 21, and until further notice, the Alexandria Health Department will offer influenza immunizations to city residents who are 18 years and older. The influenza vaccine will be available on a walk-in basis on TUESDAYS ONLY, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., in the Immunization Clinic of the Alexandria Health Department, 517 N. Saint Asaph St.

In addition, during November and December, the vaccine will be available on THURSDAYS, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., at the same location.

Cost of the flu shot is $15. Please note that the Alexandria Health Department no longer accepts Medicare or insurance billing. Patients with Medicare are advised to see their own doctor or utilize other organizations that do accept Medicare. For more information, call the Health Department’s Immunization Clinic, at 703.838.4414.

“Those who wish to avoid getting the flu, and especially those at high-risk of complications, should get their flu shot at this time,” said Dr. Charles Konigsberg, Jr., Health Director.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) encourages healthy children 6-23 months of age, household members, and out-of-home caretakers of infants from 0-23 months of age to receive the flu shot.

According to the CDC, during an average flu season, 36,000 Americans die and 114,000 are hospitalized because of complications from the flu. The flu season may begin anytime between November and March, but typically does not peak before January. After receiving the flu shot, the vaccine takes about two weeks to become effective. Please visit the CDC’s flu web page at www.cdc.gov/nip/flu for more information.

In addition, Inova Health System offers flu shot programs throughout the area. Call INOVA’s “Fight the Flu” hotline at 877.895.5BUG (5284) for additional information. You may also visit their web page at www.inova.org and click on “Fight the Flu.”

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