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DHSS Press Release

Dr. Kara Odom Walker, Secretary
Jill Fredel, Director of Communications
302-255-9047, Pager 302-357-7498
Email: jill.fredel@delaware.gov

Date: October 4, 2018
DHSS-10-2018

MEDIA ADVISORY: GET A FREE FLU SHOT AT PUBLIC HEALTH'S OCT. 9 DRIVE-THRU FLU CLINIC IN DOVER

WHO:	The Honorable John Carney, Governor The Honorable Bethany Hall-Long, Lieutenant Governor Dr. Kara Odom Walker, Secretary, Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) Jennifer Cohan, Secretary, Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) Dr. Karyl Rattay, Director, Division of Public Health (DPH), DHSS
WHAT:	DPH Drive-thru flu clinic for Delawareans ages 9 and up, on Oct. 9, 2018 in front of the DelDOT Administration Building in Dover. Nurses from DPH, Bayhealth and the Delaware Medical Reserve Corps will administer free flu shots to drivers and passengers. Any size vehicle and any number of people in one vehicle are welcome. A pedestrian lane is available to accept walk-ups. American Sign Language interpreters and staff speaking Spanish, French, and Haitian Creole will be on site. Attendees should wear short sleeves or loose-fitting clothing for access to the upper arm. People who are ill on the clinic day, especially with a fever, or whose health care provider advised them not to receive a flu vaccination, should not participate in this flu clinic. Pets other than service animals should be left at home. Governor John Carney, Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long, and other dignitaries will receive flu shots from their vehicles immediately following the 11:00 a.m. press conference. DPH is also operating this flu clinic as a preparedness exercise, so DPH staff can practice their readiness and capacity to vaccinate the public in the event of a large-scale health emergency. Staff will follow the Incident Command System structure and wear identification vests.
WHEN:	Tuesday, October 9, 2018, rain or shine Press conference is 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Flu clinic is 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. or until vaccines run out
WHERE:	DelDOT Administration Building - front parking lot 800 S. Bay Road, Dover, DE 19901 In case of rain, the press conference will be held in the Felton-Farmington Conference Room.
WHY:	Influenza is unpredictable and can be deadly. Annual flu shots protect individuals and their families, friends, and co-workers. During the 2017-2018 flu season, Delaware recorded 9,051 flu cases, the highest number of laboratory-confirmed flu cases since record keeping began in 2005. Over 1,200 people were hospitalized due to the flu and 35 people died from flu complications. DPH urges all Delawareans, including those with access and functional needs, to get their flu shots early, preferably by the end of October. Delaware already has flu activity. DPH has scheduled numerous flu clinics statewide. View the flu clinic schedule at flu.delaware.gov or call DPH at 1-800-282-8672. To find flu clinics in your ZIP code, visit www.flu.gov.
PHOTOS:	Dignitaries speaking and getting their flu shots; Delawareans lined up in their vehicles for intramuscular flu vaccine administered by DPH, Bayhealth, and Delaware Medical Reserve Corps nurses; and close-ups of flu vaccine. Specific media instructions: As this event provides medical services, faces of members of the public receiving flu shots may only be photographed/videotaped by first getting the person's verbal consent - this includes crowd shots. Additionally, close up photos/video that show information a person has written down on the registration form may not be photographed. All nursing staff have signed DPH media consent forms for having pictures taken.
INSTRUCTIONS:	For fastest service, complete the Influenza Vaccination Administration Record (VAR) form and bring one form per person with you. Visit www.dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dph/fluclinics.html. Greeters will also have VAR forms on hand.
QUESTIONS:	302-744-4704

Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware's citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations. DPH, a division of DHSS, urges Delawareans to make healthier choices with the 5-2-1 Almost None campaign: eat 5 or more fruits and vegetables each day, have no more than 2 hours of recreational screen time each day (includes TV, computer, gaming), get 1 or more hours of physical activity each day, and drink almost no sugary beverages.

MEDIA ADVISORY: GET A FREE FLU SHOT AT PUBLIC HEALTH'S OCT. 9 DRIVE-THRU FLU CLINIC IN DOVER

Delaware's Government