Greater Danbury Public Health Community Announces Flu Clinics for Saturday, February 10 in Bethel & Ridgefield

Greater Danbury Public Health Community Announces Flu Clinics for Saturday, February 10 from 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon

• Bethel VNA Office, 70 Stony Hill Rd, Bethel (Children 6 months-18 years, and adults)
• Ridgefield VNA Office, 27 Governor St, Ridgefield (Children 6 months-18 years)

In an effort to protect the public’s health and reduce the spread of influenza (flu) virus, which has heavily affected Connecticut (CT), the State Department of Public Health has asked local health departments to administer additional influenza clinics for those residents who have not yet received the influenza vaccine. In response to DPH’s request, the Greater Danbury Public Health Departments and District (Danbury, Bethel, Ridgefield, Newtown, Redding, New Fairfield, Brookfield, Sherman, and New Milford) are working with the Bethel & Ridgefield Visiting Nurse Associations (BVNA & RVNA) to provide a free/low-cost influenza vaccine clinic on Saturday, February 10, 2018.  The clinics will be held at the Bethel VNA Office at 70 Stony Hill Rd Bethel, CT and the Ridgefield VNA Office 27 Governor St, Ridgefield, CT from 9:00 AM until 12:00 AM. CT DPH strongly encourages all Connecticut residents over the age of 6 months to get a flu shot.

Vaccine administered to children 18 years of age and younger will be made available free of charge. Vaccine for children comes from the Connecticut Vaccine Program. Managed by DPH, this program provides influenza vaccine free of charge for all children 6 months through 18 years of age. At the Bethel VNA, adult vaccines will be provided at no cost to those without insurance. Residents with insurance should bring their insurance card. They will be charged a small administrative fee, but will not be charged out of pocket for the vaccine. The Ridgefield VNA will be free of cost for children 6 months – 18 years only.

State health officials say flu activity in Connecticut continues to increase. As of January 27^th, over 2,996 people have tested positive for the flu so far this season, and 1,154 have been hospitalized with the illness. There have also been 52 flu-related deaths so far this season. For the most recent information about influenza activity in Connecticut, please see the DPH weekly influenza update.

Influenza is a contagious respiratory illness that is spread through the air and by direct contact with respiratory droplets. Typical symptoms of the flu include sudden fever, aching muscles, sore throat, coughing, runny nose, headache, and eye pain. While anyone, particularly individuals who are not vaccinated, can contract the flu, the illness is especially dangerous for certain groups, including people aged 65 and older; children younger than 2 years old; people of any age with chronic medical conditions, like asthma, diabetes, congestive heart failure, or lung disease; and pregnant women.

Contact Lisa Morrissey, Director of Health & Human Services (l.morrissey@danbury-ct.gov) for more information.