CHAPEL HILLS MALL HOSTS NATIONAL PROGRAM TO PREVENT FLU

Colorado Springs, CO… It’s not too late to get your flu vaccination! Chapel Hills Mall is partnering with the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to help you stay healthy. Area residents who have not received a flu vaccination are invited to come to the upper level of Chapel Hills Mall, near Burlington Coat Factory, on Saturday, Feb. 18, 2012 from noon to 4 p.m. for one of 300 free flu shots. Vaccinations will be given on a first-come,
first-served basis.

The goal of this partnership effort in shopping malls across the U.S. is to reduce the risk of serious illness or death from influenza during the peak flu season. According to reports issued by the CDC Influenza Division*, influenza peaked nationally during the 2010 – 2011 influenza season in February 2011. In addition, during the same time period, the percentage of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenza exceeded epidemic numbers through April 2011.

Walgreens will provide licensed staff to administer the immunizations at Chapel Hills Mall on Feb. 18. Also, thanks to Walgreens, all immunizations given at the mall will be provided through their free voucher program.

“Chapel Hills Mall is proud to join shopping centers across the country in this national health initiative,” said Victoria Harley, general manager. “Chapel Hills Mall is a convenient location for people to get their flu immunization.”

The CDC* encourages people to get vaccinated throughout the flu season, which lasts as late as May. According to the CDC, over the course of the flu season, many different influenza viruses can circulate at different times and in different places. As long as flu viruses are still spreading in the community, vaccination can provide protective benefit.

According to the CDC, it is important that the following groups get vaccinated:  

• Pregnant women
• Children younger than five years old , but
  especially children younger than two years old
• People 50 years of age and older
• People of any age with certain chronic
  medical conditions
• People who live in nursing homes and other
  long-term care facilities
• People who live with or care for those at
  high risk for complications from flu, including health care workers, household
  contacts of persons at high risk for complications for the flu; and household
  contacts and out of home caregivers of children less than six months of age,
  since these children are too young to be vaccinated. 
  
  *For more information about the flu immunization program visit www.chapelhillsmall.com; for influenza guidelines visit www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/vaccine/vaccinesafety.htm.

Chapel Hills Mall, opened in 1982, and is a two-level, 1,200,000 square foot enclosed super regional mall located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Six traditional department stores, Dillard’s, jcpenney, Macy’s, Sears, Dick’s Sporting Goods and Burlington Coat Factory anchor Chapel Hills Mall which also includes over 105 specialty shops and restaurants. Chapel Hills Mall is centrally located at I-25 at N. Academy. It serves a primary population of over 312,000.

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