Barry Long wanted to do what he could to lower his chances of getting the flu this year, so he was one of 48 people who got a free flu shot Thursday at Humane Fire Company, Pottsville.
"The (news) reports were not good this year, so I figured, why take the chance?" Long, 50, of Pottsville, said about getting the flu. He normally does not get vaccinated because "I didn't think it was necessary," he said.
His wife, Susan, 48, also received the shot and said it was "painless."
About 200 doses were available for the general public and emergency responders and volunteers. "It's national immunization week. That's why we're doing this," said Kay Jones, executive director of Schuylkill County's VISION.
The vaccinations were provided by the state Department of Health Division of Immunizations, Jones said.
John Blickley, operations and training officer with the Schuylkill County Emergency Management Agency, said this is the first year to specifically target emergency volunteers. They should be protected because of their interaction with the public, he said.
Marie Beauchamp of the Interfaith Network, a partner with VISION, said people were waiting for a flu shot about 4:45 p.m., even though the event didn't start until 5 p.m.
Flu cases have increased nationwide, especially in the south, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
According to the Weekly Flu Report of Nov. 18 to 24, the latest available, Alaska, Mississippi, New York and South Carolina have reported widespread flu cases and two pediatric deaths have been reported for the current flu season, according to the CDC.
The state Department of Health said an increase of flu activity has taken place in the western half of the state. So far, 53 of 67 counties have reported flu activity. For the week of Nov. 4 to Dec. 1, the latest data available, 387 flu cases have been reported, according to the department. The event is sponsored by VISION, the county Emergency Management Agency, Diakon, the state Department of Health, the county-based Immunization Coalition and the Interfaith Health Network, which is a coalition of 30 churches, Jones said.