BALTIMORE—Approximately 30 volunteer clinicians at MedStar Harbor Hospital (3001 S Hanover St, Baltimore, MD 21225) will be administering free flu shots Saturday, Oct. 3, at their fourth annual drive-thru flu vaccination clinic. The on-campus event starts at 10 a.m. and ends at 2 p.m. or when supplies run out.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it is more important than ever during the pandemic, to be vaccinated for flu to reduce the spread of respiratory illness, especially among vulnerable populations.
Last year, the CDC estimates there were 38 million flu illnesses across the United States, with 400,000 flu-related hospitalizations. They released data estimating flu vaccines prevented 7.5 million more illness and 6,300 deaths.
“We will be following all CDC recommended protocols to ensure safe delivery of the vaccines,” said Dawn R. Owens, chief nursing officer and vice-president of patient care services at MedStar Harbor Hospital. “This is a quick and easy way to get immunized. We have an experienced team who are very proficient to keep the traffic flow moving as quickly as possible, and people do not even have to get out of the car.”
Clinicians will be ready to administer the shots to adults aged 18 and older who don’t have a known allergy to the vaccine.
Those who are getting the vaccine should remember to wear short sleeves or clothing with easy access to the upper arm.
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About MedStar Health
MedStar Health is a not-for-profit health system dedicated to caring for people in Maryland and the Washington, D.C., region, while advancing the practice of medicine through education, innovation and research. MedStar’s 30,000 associates, 6,000 affiliated physicians, 10 hospitals, ambulatory care and urgent care centers, and the MedStar Health Research Institute are recognized regionally and nationally for excellence in medical care. As the medical education and clinical partner of Georgetown University, MedStar trains more than 1,100 medical residents annually. MedStar Health’s patient-first philosophy combines care, compassion and clinical excellence with an emphasis on customer service. For more information, visit MedStarHealth.org.
