Credit: AP Photo The Florida Department of Health in Lee County, will be providing free influenza and Hepatitis A vaccines throughout Lee County during the month of November. Staff will utilize the mobile units funded by LeeCARES. A total of 80 flu vaccines and 30 HepA vaccines will be available at each site. The flu vaccine is available for anyone 6 months or older. All unvaccinated residents are strongly encouraged to get their flu shot as soon as possible. Flu vaccination is the best way to prevent the flu and its potentially serious complications. Vaccination is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. and will continue, weather permitting, until 12:30 p.m. There is no fee for the vaccine, and no appointment or doctor’s order is necessary. Parking is limited at some sites. These are not drive-thru sites; attendees are asked to walk up to the testing area. For individuals 65 and over that would like the high-dose flu vaccine, please call 239-461-6100 to schedule an appointment at our Michigan Avenue location. WEEK 2 Thursday, November 12th 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Lakes Regional Library 15290 Bass Road Fort Myers, FL 33919 Friday, November 13th 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Hope PACE Center 1201 Wings Way Lehigh Acres, FL 33936 WEEK 3 Thursday, November 19th 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. North Fort Myers Public Library 2001 N. Tamiami Trail North Fort Myers, FL 33903 Friday, November 20th 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Hope Chest 28520 Bonita Crossings Blvd. Bonita Springs, FL 34135 WEEK 4 Tuesday, November 24th 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Fort Myers Regional Library/Talking Books Library 1651 Lee Street Fort Myers, FL 33901 WEEK 5 Tuesday, December 1st 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Hope Care Center 9740 HealthPark Circle Fort Myers, FL 33908 Influenza Vaccine The best time to receive a flu vaccine is before flu viruses begin spreading in the community. It takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body and provide protection against flu so plan to get vaccinated early in fall, before flu season begins. CDC recommends that people get a flu vaccine by the end of October. According to CDC, getting a flu vaccine will not protect against COVID-19, however flu vaccination has many other important benefits. Last year’s vaccine may not protect against the current year’s strain. Even if the vaccine does not fully protect against the flu, the vaccines have been shown to reduce the risk of flu illness, hospitalization and death. Getting a flu vaccine this fall will be more important than ever, not only to reduce your risk from flu but also to help conserve potentially scarce health care resources. Hepatitis A Vaccine Hepatitis A is a contagious liver disease that results from infection with the hepatitis A virus (HAV). It can range in severity from a mild illness lasting a few weeks to a severe illness lasting several months. Hepatitis A is usually spread when a person ingests fecal matter—even in microscopic amounts—from contact with objects, food or drinks contaminated by feces (stool) of an infected person. Vaccination is the best way to prevent hepatitis A.