Santa Clara County Valley Health Centers offer free flu shots in many locations
SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CA. – Free flu shots for adults over 19 will be available at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center’s geographically accessible “Valley Health Centers” beginning on Saturday, September 29, 2018. Adult Flu Vaccine Fairs will be held at the Valley Health Centers on a rotating schedule.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone six months and older should get their flu shot early—before flu season begins. The flu vaccine helps prevent the spread of the flu and reduces the chances of needing to be hospitalized for flu illnesses. Flu season often begins in the fall, but is unpredictable, and the vaccine takes two weeks to become fully effective.
In addition to the Valley Health Center Flu Fairs, vaccines are available at doctors’ offices, and many pharmacies provide free and low-cost flu vaccinations to the public.
“Since it takes about two weeks after vaccination for the antibodies that protect against the flu to develop in the body, people should get the flu vaccine before flu season begins,” said Dr. John Fankhauser, Chief Medical Officer of Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. “Flu shots are the best way to protect yourself, your family, and the community from becoming seriously ill with the flu.”
It is important to get the flu vaccine every year because flu strains change over time. Flu vaccination is recommended for everyone six months of age or older, but is particularly important for those at higher risk of severe influenza, including pregnant women, children under five years of age, adults over the age of 50, and people with certain underlying medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. Pregnant women who get a flu shot not only protect themselves, but also help protect their babies in their first six months when they are still too young to be vaccinated.
Timely flu shots help prevent a disease that can cause serious illness, hospitalization, and death, particularly among older adults, very young children, pregnant women, and those with certain chronic medical conditions.
Santa Clara Valley Medical Center: Hospital and Clinics
2018 Adult Flu Fair (Ages: 19 years and older. No charge while supplies last.)
Hours: 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
- Valley Health Center Downtown: September 29 and October 27
- Valley Health Center East Valley: October 13 and November 3
- Valley Health Center Gilroy: October 20 and November 17
- Valley Health Center Lenzen: October 20 and November 17
- Valley Health Center Milpitas: October 20 and November 17
- Valley Health Center Moorpark: September 29, October 13 and 27, and November 3
- Valley Health Center Sunnyvale: October 13 and November 3
- Valley Health Center Tully: September 29 and October 27
2018 Flu Vaccination Clinic information in English, Spanish and Vietnamese: www.scvmc.org/ImmunizeFlu
For more information about influenza, visit the Santa Clara County influenza web page, visit http://www.sccphd.org/flu.
