HERSHEY, Pa. — Nurses from Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center administered free flu shots to attendees of the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg. This is the fifth year that the nurses provided flu shots at the show.
Flu shots were offered every day of the Farm Show from Jan. 6 to 13. Hershey Medical Center nurses administered 1,242 shots with no appointment required. In all, 189 children ages 17 and under received shots, 929 adults 18 to 65 years old received shots, and 124 adults 65 and older received shots.
“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.”
Acting Pennsylvania Secretary of Health and Physician General Dr. Rachel Levine visited the Farm Show on Jan. 11 to help Penn State Health nurses and Department of Health staff promote the free flu shots.
“We are providing no-cost flu shots to better protect you and your loved ones from a potentially serious illness,” said Levine. “The flu can be a mild irritant for many, but to those with suppressed immune systems it can be deadly. A flu shot is an incredibly safe, convenient way to keep your family healthy.”
Watch this video to see why Dr. Jay Zimmermann, a family physician at Penn State Medical Group-Elizabethtown, says now is the time to get vaccinated.