Inova Health System Offering Flu Shots

Vaccine Highly Recommended for Children, Seniors

Falls Church, VA – (September 27, 2010) – Inova Health System’s HealthSource will be offering influenza vaccinations to children and adults throughout the Washington region beginning Friday, October 1. New this year, the CDC is recommending that anyone 6 months and older be vaccinated annually.

Each year, about 36,000 people in the U.S. die from causes related to seasonal flu, while more than 200,000 people are hospitalized. An annual flu vaccination is safe and convenient, and can be up to 90 percent effective in protecting against this serious illness and this year’s vaccine includes the 2009 pandemic H1N1 strain. Persons at high risk for serious complications from influenza include:

• Children six months to 5 years of age
• Adults with children up to 18 years of age
• Adults 50 and over
• Adults and children who have medical conditions that lower your body’s immune system such as diabetes, heart disease, asthma and HIV, among others
• Adults who live in, work at or have contact with anyone in institutions such as schools, nursing homes and/or hospitals
• Women who are pregnant in any trimester, or who may deliver during flu season

The flu shot cannot cause the flu. Each child will need to be accompanied by a legal guardian or parent. Seniors with Medicare Part B can receive a flu shot at no charge by presenting their Medicare card. The cost for the flu shot is $30 per person (cash or check accepted). Inova will also be offering FluMist and FluZone HighDose at its hospital-based clinics.

Inova Health System is one of Northern Virginia’s largest providers of flu shots, with Inova’s highly trained nurses vaccinating as many as 80,000 people each year. For more information about immunizations and other flu-related services, call 703-750-8818 or visit inova.org/flu.

Inova Health System is a not-for-profit healthcare system based in Northern Virginia that consists of hospitals and other health services, including emergency- and urgent-care centers, home care, nursing homes, mental health and blood donor services, and wellness classes. Governed by a voluntary board of community members, Inova’s mission is to improve the health of the diverse community it serves through excellence in patient care, education and research. Inova provides a healthy environment for its patients, families, visitors, staff and physicians by prohibiting tobacco use on its campuses.