Flu shots and emergency preparedness for Burlington residents

Local residents can get their flu shots while helping the town gear for future public health emergencies. Next Saturday, Nov. 20, a combined flu clinic and full scale emergency preparedness exercise will be held at Burlington High School from noon to 3 p.m.

The Burlington Medical Reserve Corps, the Board of Health and the Boston University School of Medicine's Emergency Health Care Management program are partnering to conduct the event. The corps is a volunteer group of medical professionals and others that assists the town's health officials during public health emergencies, mass casualty events, and community service activities.

At Saturday's event, corps volunteers will administer free seasonal flu vaccinations using procedures they would employ to inoculate people in an actual emergency such as a pandemic flu outbreak A professor and graduate students from the BU School of Medicine program will be evaluating the exercise.

The vaccine this year includes protection against seasonal and H1N1 flu strains. The vaccinations are available to anyone six months and older. Those receiving the inoculations need not be Burlington residents.

While the shots are free, those receiving them are asked to bring their insurance cards because the town is eligible for reimbursement from insurers. Parking for the event is free. For more information, call 781-270-1955 or go to www.burlington.org/boh.  – John Laidler