Health officials urge residents to get flu shots

Now that peak flu season is in full swing, public health officials are urging residents to get vaccinated.

To encourage more people to get flu shots, as well as take care of their medical and wellness needs, the National Hispanic Medical Association hosted a Community Health Fair on Oct. 11 at the James Lee Community Center.

The event featured free flu shots, free screenings for cholesterol and diabetes, free Covid test kits, and informational resources from about two dozen agencies and organizations – with a focus on outreach to the Hispanic community.

Hispanics are less likely to get flu shots – and more likely to be hospitalized if they get sick – than non-Hispanic Whites, said Jorge Muñiz Ortiz, lieutenant commander at the U.S. Public Health Service.

One reason they get sick at higher numbers Muñiz Ortiz said, is because Hispanics are more likely to work in jobs that put them in close contact with lots of people and are more likely to have underlying health conditions.

In addition, immigrants often don’t understand the need for a flu shot because they come from countries that have different seasons and that don’t have a flu vaccination program, said Karol Escalante, Fairfax County’s director of immigrant community affairs.

“It’s important to provide health information to immigrants “in a culturally competent, respectful way,” Escalante said.

And with all the anti-vax campaigns out there, Muñiz Ortiz added, the Public Health Service “uses scientific data to counter disinformation.”