Drive-Thru Free Flu Shots To Simulate Mass Vaccination Event

FREDERICKSBURG, VA — The Rappahannock Area Health District will be offering free flu shots in Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania at special events. These will be drive-thru events and all safety precautions will be observed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

These events offer free quadrivalent flu vaccines (covers four types of flu) to residents ages 9 and up while they sit in their vehicles. Vaccine supplies are limited and will be available on a first- come, first-served basis until the end time of the event, or until the supply of flu vaccine runs out.

Residents must wear a mask and short-sleeved shirt or sleeves that roll up for easy access to the upper arm.

The dates and locations of the two events are:

• Saturday, Oct. 3 – 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., Hugh Mercer Elementary School, 2100 Cowan Boulevard, Fredericksburg
• Tuesday, Oct. 6 – 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Fire Company 2, 1700 Volunteer Lane, Spotsylvania

The Rappahannock Area Health District said the purpose of the events is to simulate mass vaccination events in which the health department and local agencies would work together so community members could be vaccinated efficiently during a time of emergency. Rappahannock Medical Reserve Corps volunteers will assist health department staff with this exercise.

“This year it is more important than ever to get a flu shot,” said RAHD Acting Director Dr. Denise Bonds. “With the possibility of both viruses being in our communities at the same time, it is vital that everyone age 6 months or older get their yearly flu shot.”

The CDC estimates that each year over the last decade, influenza has caused between 9 million and 45 million illnesses across the country, between 140,000 and 810,000 hospitalizations and between 12,000 and 61,000 deaths in the U.S.

Since the start of the coronavirus crisis in the United States, 7.3 million people have tested positive for the coronavirus and 207,816 people have died as of Friday morning, according to Johns Hopkins University. More than 401,400 people have been hospitalized with COVID-19 in the U.S. since the start of the pandemic.