Shot in the armfor voter turnout

Among Montco’s flu shot sites, Health Department will vaccinate at polling location

Along with the pumpkins and apple cider and changing leaves, autumn also brings a more sinister sign that summer is over: flu season. But in Montgomery County, residents have a number of opportunities to stop the virus before it starts.

TheMontgomery County Health Department has announced four upcoming sites for residents to get a flu shot with no cost or appointment.

One of the locations, on Election Day, is part of a new effort called “Vote and Vax.” Health Department staffers will be on hand at a polling location, Trinity Lutheran Church in Lansdale, offering flu shots to voters.

“There are about 800 folks that voted in that dis- trict in 2008 and 2012, but there are over 1,200 voters registered at that district that we hope some of them will come and get their flu vaccine,” said Christine Jones, a nurse with the Health Department. “It is good that it is on Nov. 8, because that is later in the season and wemay capture a lot of people that maybe fall into that other 50 percent that don’t get their flu shot.”

Officials from the health department said that anyone more than 6months old should consider getting the vaccine, including pregnant women.

“Every year sadly, even though the flu vaccine is an effectivemeasure to prevent the flu virus, 100 children around the nation still perish every year, approximately, from the flu. And only about 45 percent of Americans get vaccinated every year,” said Ruth Cole, director of Clinical Services for the Health Department. “So that’s sad, we have this important intervention that we could be using, people are not taking advantage of it.”

The flu shots will be available to county residents only, at the following times and locations. For more information on flu shots, visit montcopa. org/flu:

• Hope Community Church, 2732 North Charlotte St., Gilbertsville on Oct. 13, 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.

• Montgomery County Community College, College Hall, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell on Oct. 15, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

• Upper Merion Township Building, 175 West Valley Forge Road, King of Prussia on Oct. 18, 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.

• Trinity Lutheran Church (Vote and Vax event), 1000 West Main St., Lansdale on Nov. 8, 3:30 to 6:30 p.m.