Free flu shots available Friday

Coming off a record-breaking influenza season last year, Delaware officials are offering free flu shots Friday as part of an effort to urge residents to get vaccinated before the flu season hits hard.

Last year's flu season, which ended in May, saw 2,400 medically confirmed cases of the flu and 28 deaths, the highest in the last five years. It's expected there could have been hundreds of more cases.

"Last year just shows how vital the vaccine is," said Emily Knearl, chief of risk communications for the division.

The free vaccinations will be available from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the New Castle County Farmers Market, 110 N. DuPont Highway, near New Castle. Regardless of whether you have insurance, the shots are free. The state is also planning on hosting another free vaccination event downstate before the end of October.

About 1,675 of the state's 2,400 flu cases last year were caused by a mutated form of a typical H3N2 influenza A strain that developed early on, and the flu vaccine on the market did not stop it from spreading.

Though the flu season is typically unpredictable, the two vaccines available to the public this year are expected to be more effective, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

This year's vaccine, called the trivalent vaccine, was made to protect an H1N1-like virus, A/California/7/2009, a H3N2-like strain called A/Switzerland/9715293/2013 and the influenza B virus, B/Phuket/3073/2013.

Another flu vaccine known as the quadrivalent vaccine, because it protects against four strains, adds protection against an additional influenza B virus, B/Brisbane/60/2008. They are available in an intramuscular shot or nasal mist for children under age 9.

Delaware Division of Public Health nurses will be administering the quadrivalent intramuscular vaccine Friday.

Flu season kicks off; two vaccine shots released

The free vaccines are also a component of an annual mass flu immunization emergency preparedness drill the division must conduct each October, Knearl said, which tests the staff's ability to distribute mass vaccinations in an emergency.

This year, there is a special focus on vaccinating people with disabilities.

People with disabilities, the elderly and other special-needs populations are more vulnerable to the flu, she said.

"Both are more vulnerable to getting ill and becoming very ill," Knearl explained.

Of the 28 flu-related fatalities in Delaware last year, everyone was over age 55 and had a serious underlying medical condition such as diabetes, lung problems and mobility issues.

This year, the division especially wants to reach people with disabilities, Knearl said, and has made accommodations to do so by making the event wheelchair-accessible. Staff will have tools on hand to help those with visual or hearing impairments as well.

"This is a first time we have been as focused on this population," she said. "If you are preparing for a disaster, you have to meet the needs of all your citizens."

Nick Fina, a longtime advocate for people with disabilities, said it is important for everyone, especially those at high risk, to get the flu vaccine.

"People with accessibility and functional needs sometimes operate at the periphery of society," Fina said.

Education is key, he said, because people in that high-risk population may not be getting the most accurate information on the influenza vaccine.

It is not good enough anymore to just make assumptions that we are meeting everybody's needs, Knearl said.

"We want people to come and push us," she added. "We may think we have thought of everything, but we haven’t."

Jen Rini can be reached at (302)324-2386 or jrini@delawareonline.com. Follow @JenRini on Twitter.

Delaware Division of Public Health's seasonal flu shot clinics

New Castle County

Oct. 9: New Castle Farmers Market, 110 N. DuPont Highway, New Castle, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Oct. 13: Police Athletic League of Wilmington, 3707 N. Market St., Wilmington, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Oct. 14: Wilmington Library, 10th & Market Streets, Wilmington, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Oct. 15: Garfield Park Library, 26 Karlyn Drive, New Castle, 9 a.m. to noon

Oct. 22: Dutch Country Farmers Market, 701 N. Broad St., Middletown, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Oct. 23: Newark Farmers Market, 2515 Kirkwood Highway, Newark, 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Oct. 30: New Castle Farmers Market, 110 N. DuPont Highway, New Castle, 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Nov. 3: YMCA-Walnut, 1000 North Walnut St., Wilmington, 10 a.m. to noon

Nov. 4: Emmanuel Dining Room - Walnut, 3rd & Walnut streets, Wilmington, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Nov 4: Emmanuel Dining Room - Delaware, 500 Rogers Road, New Castle, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Nov. 4: Emmanuel Dining Room - Jackson, 121 N. Jackson St., Wilmington, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Nov. 5: Goodwill - Claymont, 2701 Philadelphia Pike, Claymont, 10 a.m. to noon

Nov. 13: New Castle Farmers Market, 110 N. DuPont Highway, New Castle, 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Nov. 18: Career TEAM, 964 Justison St., Wilmington, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Kent County

Saturday: Holy Cross Catholic Church Multi-Cultural Heath Fair, 631 S. State St., Dover, 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Oct. 13: Milford Community Center, 105 NE Front St., Milford, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Oct. 14: Byler's, 1368 Rose Valley School Road, Dover, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Oct. 22: Solid Rock Baptist Church, 113 N. West St., Dover, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Oct. 30: Spence's Bazaar, 550 S. New St., Dover, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Nov. 18: Jesus Love Temple, 106 S Walnut St., Milford, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Nov. 21: Frontline Ministries, 516A Jefferic Blvd., Dover, 10 a.m. to noon

Jan. 13: Legislative Hall, 411 Legislative Ave., Dover, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Sussex County

Oct. 7: Laurel Fire Hall, 205 W. 10th St., Laurel, 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Oct. 10: Laurel Junction, Bargain Bill's Flea Market, 10912 County Seat Highway, Laurel, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Oct. 16: Providence United Methodist Church, Shortly Road, Georgetown, 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 17: Frankford Fire Hall, Beebe Health Fair, 7 Main St., Frankford, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Oct. 22: Greenwood Fire Hall, 12611 Sussex Highway, Greenwood, 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Oct. 24: Route 13 Outlet Market, 11290 Trussum Pond Road, Laurel, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Oct. 28: Blades Fire Hall, 200 E. 5th St., Blades, 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Nov. 11: Philadelphia Pentecostal Holiness Church, 13724 S. Old State Road, Ellendale, 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Nov. 6: Indian River Fire Hall, Station 1, 32628 Oak Orchard Road, Millsboro, 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Nov. 7: Bethel UMC, 310 S. Railroad Avenue, Georgetown, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Nov. 16: Milton Fire Hall, 116 Front St., Milton, 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Dec. 2: Western Sussex, Boys & Girls Club, 310 Virginia Ave., Seaford, 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Continuing flu shot sites, for those older than 3

• Hudson State Service Center, 501 Ogletown Road, Newark. Appointment only. (302) 283-7587. Mondays through Thursdays.

• Williams State Service Center, 805 River Road, Dover, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Appointment only. (302) 857-5130.

• Oct. 22 to March 7, Mondays only: Milford State Service Center - Riverwalk, 253 NE Front St., Milford, 9 a.m. to noon. Appointment only. (302) 424-7130.

• Oct. 5 to Dec. 7, Mondays only: Adams State Service Center, 544 South Bedford St., Georgetown. 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Walk in.

• Oct. 2 to Dec. 18, Fridays only: Shipley State Service Center, 350 Virginia Ave., Seaford, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Walk in.

Continuing flu shot sites for children ages 6 months to 18 years

Children are often offered a nasal mist flu shot, and providers ask for appointments to be sure they have them in stock.

• Hudson State Service Center 501 Ogletown Road, Newark. Call Mondays-Fridays for appointments. (302) 283-7587.

• Mondays through Thursdays, Williams State Service Center, 805 River Road, Dover. 8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Call for appointments. (302) 857-5130.

• Oct. 5 - Dec. 7, Mondays only: Adams State Service Center 544 South Bedford St., Georgetown. 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. Walk in okay.

• Oct. 2 - Dec. 18, Fridays only: Shipley State Service Center, 350 Virginia Ave., Seaford. 8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Walk in.

Flu shot costs are dependent on a person's insurance. For more information, go to https: dhss.delaware.gov/dhss/dph/fluclinics.html.