CUPHD Encourages Local Community To Go To The Polls For Voting And Vaccination!
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 30, 2008
Contact
Julie Pryde, Acting Public Health Administrator
(217) 531-5369 /
Lori A. Holmes, Public Relations
(217) 531-2927
CUPHD Encourages Local Community To Go To The Polls For Voting And Vaccination!
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District to Hold Flu Shot Clinics at Polling Places as Part of National Initiative
Champaign, IL – On Election Day 2008, those who go to polling places in Champaign-Urbana may find that they can do more than vote – they can also get a flu shot. The Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD) will be having three mobile flu shot clinics at local polling places as part of a nationwide pilot program to help improve the health of all Americans. CUPHD is one of a growing number of health organizations across the county participating in “Vote & Vax”, a national project to encourage the hosting of flu clinics at polling sites on Election Day. As an added value service, CUPHD will also be offering FREE blood screenings for prostate cancer (PSA) for all interested men over 40.
CUPHD will be at the following polling sites this Election Day from 7:00am – 7:00pm:
- Meadowbrook Community Church; 1902 South Duncan Road, Champaign
- Sunnycrest Mall; Urbana
- Olive Baptist Church; 808 East Bradley Avenue, Champaign
“This is a great opportunity for everyone, but particularly adults age 50 and older who are especially vulnerable to illness during flu season, to safely and conveniently receive a flu shot from a friendly CUPHD team member, while also voting,” said Candi Crause, Acting Director of Infectious Disease Prevention & Management for CUPHD. “This Election Day, more than 100 million Americans are expected to vote at their local community polling places. The “Vote & Vax” project provides a good solution to help our community protect its health during the upcoming flu season.”
Each year, as many as 60 million people in the United States come down with the flu. Hundreds of thousands of people are hospitalized and more than 36,000 people die as a result of the flu. The majority of those who die are adults age 50 and older.
It is important that people take all precautions to ensure they stay healthy. This is why CUPHD is providing voters and other community members with easy access to flu shots at polling places to help protect their health and the health of their community.
“Election Day represents a good opportunity for us to make contact with a large cross section of the community,” said Julie A. Pryde, Acting Public Health Administrator. “Great effort is expended on Election Day to get people to the polls. Because of this, CUPHD can potentially vaccinate many people who may otherwise not be reached.”
For more information on the Vote & Vax Program, the CUPHD Mobile Program or any other CUPHD program, please contact CUPHD at (217) 352-7961 or visit CUPHD on the web at www.c-uphd.org.
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