DCMS Foundation Launches 2021 #FluVaxJax Campaign
with Community Partners

Jacksonville, FL (September 8, 2021) – The Duval County Medical Society Foundation(DCMS Foundation) today launched the 2021 #FluVaxJax campaign with a goal ofincreasing the rate of influenza vaccinations on the First Coast. Download PDF of this announcement

This collaboration between local hospitals and health systems, pharmacies, healthinsurance companies, safety net programs, the Florida Department of Health in Clay,Duval, Nassau, and St. Johns Counties, the Jacksonville Mayor’s office, local media, andmany others provides a widespread message regarding the importance of flu vaccines ashealthcare providers continue to battle COVID-19.

Background

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, we must keep an eye out for the fall and wintermonths. This is typically a time of the year when hospitalizations increase and ICU bedutilization rises. While adding COVID-19 patients to the mix, we will likely see a pointwhere our hospital systems are not able to add further patients which could thenjeopardize the health of our region.

Vaccinations for the flu work to not only decrease infection rates but also to minimizeadverse outcomes from being infected. Minimizing the number of people who have to behospitalized for the flu in the fall/winter may allow us to have appropriate bed capacity forCOVID-19 patients and others requiring hospitalization.

Our Campaign

In an average year, the First Coast has about a 36.9% adult vaccination rate.* During the2020/ 2021 flu season, the #FluVaxJax campaign helped to increase the adult fluvaccination rate to 48.5% by the end of flu season.

The campaign will continue for the 2021/ 2022 flu season. No-cost flu vaccine voucherswill once again be distributed to the uninsured. Please keep in mind that while COVID-19vaccines are free, the flu vaccine is not. An uninsured person usually pays between$35-$55 for the vaccine. A no-cost flu vaccine voucher request can be submitted throughwww.fluvaxjax.com by selecting Get a Vaccine.

Interview Opportunities

The DCMS/local hospitals/health systems and pharmacies have provided physicians andpharmacists to discuss the flu and the importance of flu vaccination. Those listed can also discuss the COVID-19 vaccine.

*Data from the Florida Health Charts

VaxJaxKids

Information on a pediatric vaccine campaign for the flu vaccine, MMR vaccine, and Tdapvaccine can be found at vaxjaxkids.com or by reaching out to Bethany Atkins, MD, at(904) 861-7918.