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Charlotte Amalie
Thursday, March 28, 2024
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Health to Hold Flu Vaccine Outreach Territory-wide

The Department of Health’s Immunization Program Clinics will administer free flu shots throughout the territory during outreach events to begin in October, the start of the flu season. Residents are urged to take advantage of the free vaccine to prevent spreading germs that cause the flu, symptoms of which include a fever 100.4 degrees or higher, sore throat, nose congestion, intense body aches, extreme tiredness, dry cough and retro-orbital pain or pain behind the eyes, according to a press release from DOH and Dr. Marc A. Jerome, acting health commissioner. Residents can also request a flu shot from their healthcare provider. Clinics will close during this outreach to residents.
The Department of Health’s outreach events, to include participation in Project Homeless Connect, a United Way initiative sponsored by the Department of Human Services, will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. as follows:
St. Croix
  • Friday, Oct. 7 – Plaza Extra East
  • Friday, Oct. 14 – Plaza Extra West
St. Thomas-St. John
  • Thursday, Oct. 6 – St. John Legislature Building
  • Friday, Oct. 7 – Tutu Park Mall
  • Friday Oct. 14 – Project Homeless Connect, UVI Sports and Fitness Center
The clinics at the Charles Harwood Complex and the Schneider Regional Medical Center will be closed during the events on Oct. 7 and 14.
Dr. Jerome urges residents to get the flu shot, noting that some are more at risk than others. “While everyone should get a flu vaccine each flu season, it’s especially important that certain people get vaccinated either because they are at high risk of having serious flu–related complications or because they live with or care for people at high risk for developing flu–related complications.”
Those at high-risk include:
  • Pregnant women
· Children younger than five, but especially children younger than two years old
· People 50 years of age and older
· People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions
· People who live in nursing homes and other long–term care facilities
· People who live with or care for those at high risk for complications from flu, including:
o Health care workers
o Household contacts of persons at high risk for complications from the flu
o Household contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than six months of age (these children are too young to be vaccinated)

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