The Health Department’s flu vaccine outreach, postponed last week because of the weather, will be held territory-wide beginning Thursday, according to Health officials.
Free flu shots will be administered to V.I. residents from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday at the Tutu Park Mall on St. Thomas and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Plaza Extra East on St. Croix.
“We encourage residents to take advantage of this opportunity to get free flu shots as the flu season gets under way,” Health Commissioner Julia Sheen said in a statement.
Health will also give free shots Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Coral Bay Fire Station and at Plaza Extra West on St. Croix.
Immunization clinics at Department of Health facilities will be closed during outreach activities.
Along with free flu shots, Health’s Immunization Program is hosting two dinner lectures with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to give healthcare professionals updates on recommended vaccines. The first was Wednesday at the Charlotte Kimelman Cancer Institute on St. Thomas and the second will be Thursday from 6 to 9:30 p.m. at the V.I. Cardiac Center on St. Croix, according to the department statement.
Dr. Iyabode Akinsanya-Beysolow, medical officer with the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases under the CDC, will be speaking. Akinsanya-Beysolow will talk about flu-related topics like whether residents will only need one flu shot this year. Last year, following the outbreak of the Novel H1N1 virus, residents were recommended to take both the seasonal flu shot as well as the H1N1 vaccine.
There may also be discussion of changes in vaccine recommendations from the CDC’s Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices. Those changes involve using reliable science-based information when addressing patient concerns or questions about immunization, according to the Health Department.
As part of the dinner lecture, participants can apply for these available continuing education credits:
— Continuing Nursing Education (CNE) for nurses;
–Continuing Medical Education (CME) for physicians;
— Continuing Education Units (CEU) for continuing education and training; and
–Continuing Education Contact Hours in Health Education (CECH) for certified health education specialists.
