WASHINGTON - In Virginia right now one group is trying to make sure the state doesn’t mandate a COVID-19 vaccine once it becomes available.
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Meantime local doctors are saying this is not the year to put off getting your flu shot.
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COVID-19 vaccine debate & preventing the flu
In Virginia, one group is trying to make sure the state doesn’t mandate a COVID-19 vaccine once it becomes available.
The nonprofit group, Virginia Freedom Keepers, has been protesting and created a petition after Virginia’s Health Commissioner said he would make COVID-19 vaccines mandatory. The group says they have more than 12,000 signatures and are asking state lawmakers to consider two bills limiting the Commissioner’s power.
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Mandate controversy aside, D.C. based Doctor John Dooley says he personally will be vaccinated as soon as it’s available.
At the moment though, Foxhall Internists, where Dr. Dooley practices, is focused on the influenza vaccine.
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Dr. Dooley says in a typical year three quarters of a million patients are admitted to the hospital with influenza or a related issue. There are fears the addition of COVID could overwhelm emergency rooms.
The nurse in charge of the immunization clinic at Foxhall Internists recommends healthy people get the flu shot now. Pam Prindle says elderly or immunocompromised folks may want to ask their doctor about waiting a month to make sure the vaccine lasts through the end of flu season.
The flu shot takes at least two weeks to kick in. The flu season typically runs from October through April.
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