Harrisburg, PA – Acting Health Secretary and Physician General Dr. Rachel Levine today joined nurses from Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center at the 102nd Pennsylvania Farm Show to provide free flu shots to the public.
“The best way to protect yourself from getting the flu is to get a flu shot,” Dr. Levine said. “The flu can be a mild irritant for many, but to those with suppressed immune systems it can be deadly. If you plan to visit the Farm Show, stop at our booth and get your free flu shot.”
Flu shots will be offered from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM daily, except for Saturday, January 13, when vaccinations will conclude at 4:00 PM. Last year, 1,311 flu shots were distributed at the Farm Show.
The shots at the Farm Show are administered by nurses from Hershey Medical Center at no cost to the patient. No appointment is required. The Department of Health booth is located near the carousel by the Maclay St. entrance of the Farm Show Complex.
“Getting a flu shot is the easiest and most effective way to protect yourself, your loved ones and those around you from the flu,” said Beth Bates, a nurse at Hershey Medical Center. “With flu activity now widespread across the state, it’s more important than ever for Pennsylvanians to be protected with a flu shot.”
Other rotating offerings at the Department of Health booth throughout the week include:
Information on learning how to become an organ donor;
Resources and information about quitting smoking;
Emergency preparedness tips;
Advice for staying safe in the sun when the warm weather returns; and
Tips for keeping your child safe in the car with a car seat.
For more information about the Department of Health Farm Show booth, visit www.farmshow.health.pa.gov or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
MEDIA CONTACT: April Hutcheson, 717-787-1783 or ra-dhpressoffice@pa.gov
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