Free Flu Shots Offered to the Community 11/01/2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Ming Tai 410-491-0195 (Cell) FREE FLU SHOTS OFFERED THIS WEEKEND AT DRIVE THROUGH CLINIC November 1, 2012 (Baltimore, MD)—MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center will hold its annual drive through flu vaccination clinic on Sunday, November 4 on the CCBC-Essex campus beginning at 9 a.m. Nurses will be prepared to administer 2500 free vaccinations to all eligible individuals on a first-come, first-served basis. Since 2007, MedStar Franklin Square has worked closely with county agencies to hold the clinic, including the Baltimore County Health and Human Services, Police, Fire and Public Works departments, and the Community College of Baltimore County, which allows the use of its Essex campus. While the vaccine has been readily available this year, this clinic provides a free and convenient way for members of the community to vaccinate the entire family in one stop, without having to leave the car. Typically, flu leads to 200,000 hospitalizations and 36,000 deaths each year in the United States. The best way to avoid getting the flu is to get the annual vaccination. While Jonathan Hansen, MD, chair of Emergency Medicine at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center, reports the area having a milder flu season last year, he says there’s no way to predict ahead of time what this year will bring and hopes vaccinating the community will lead to fewer hospitalizations and related complications.. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the vaccination for those six months and older, to avoid getting the flu or exposing others to it. The vaccine is also highly recommended for those who work with young, or old, or ill, such as health care workers. ###

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