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DHSS Press Release

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

DPH Media Contact:
Jennifer Brestel
302-744-4907, Cell 302-612-6223
Email: Jennifer.brestel@delaware.gov

Date: October 1, 2019
DHSS-10-2019

MEDIA ADVISORY: GET A FREE FLU SHOT AT OCT. 4 FLU CLINIC AT PORTER STATE SERVICE CENTER IN DOWNTOWN WILMINGTON

WHO:	Dr. Karyl Rattay, Director, Division of Public Health (DPH) Division of Public Health (DPH) staff Delaware Medical Reserve Corps volunteers Members of the public
WHAT:	Walk-up flu clinic for Delawareans ages 9 and up. Nurses from DPH and the Delaware Medical Reserve Corps will administer free flu shots to members of the public. Attendees who wish to receive a flu shot 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. The first 200 participants to receive their flu shot will receive a free gift card. This flu clinic also serves as a preparedness exercise, allowing DPH staff to assess their readiness and capacity to vaccinate the public in the event of a large-scale health emerge
WHEN:	Friday, October 4, 2019, rain or shine Media opportunity from noon to 12:30 p.m. Flu clinic will run from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., or until vaccines run out
WHERE:	Under tents in the parking lot of the Porter State Service Center 509 W. 8th Street, Wilmington, DE 19801
WHY:	Influenza is unpredictable and can be deadly. Annual flu shots protect individuals and their families, friends and co-workers. During the 2018-2019 flu season, Delaware recorded 6,387 laboratory-confirmed flu cases. More than 1,000 Delawareans were hospitalized due to the flu and 24 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. 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.
VISUALS:	DPH Director Dr. Karyl Rattay receiving her annual flu shot, close-ups of the flu vaccine, and members of the public receiving the flu vaccine (individuals who give their consent may be photographed).
INSTRUCTIONS:	Individuals receiving a flu shot will complete the Influenza Vaccination Administration Record (VAR) form. Greeters will have VAR forms on hand.
QUESTIONS:	302-744-4704

A person who is deaf, hard-of-hearing, deaf-blind or speech-disabled can call the DPH phone number above by using TTY services. Dial 7-1-1 or 800-232-5460 to type your conversation to a relay operator, who reads your conversation to a hearing person at DPH. The relay operator types the hearing person's spoken words back to the TTY user. To learn more about TTY availability in Delaware, visit http://delawarerelay.com

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.

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.

MEDIA ADVISORY: GET A FREE FLU SHOT AT OCT. 4 FLU CLINIC AT PORTER STATE SERVICE CENTER IN DOWNTOWN WILMINGTON

Delaware's Government