Influenza activity will soon be increasing this fall, and those in downtown Washington don’t even need to leave their place of work to get better protected.

Washington County Public Health is holding their “Flu Stomp: Mobile Flu Shot Clinic” around the square from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday beginning at the public health offices above Federation Bank. An annual flu vaccine reduces the risk of flu illnesses, hospitalizations, and even the risk of flu-related death in children, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Public Health Interim Administrator Chris Estle says while the vaccine doesn’t prevent the flu, it has been shown to reduce severity of illness. Estle encourages the public to check this off their fall to-do list in order to help prevent a greater burden on Iowa’s healthcare system faced with an ongoing pandemic, “Anytime from now moving forward is a great time to get your flu vaccine and the goal of public health is for individuals to receive their vaccine. So vaccine is readily available for influenza, that is something that local public health is going to be offering as well. We have clinics set up, coming up in the next weeks, so make sure you check your status, make sure you talk to your healthcare provider and discuss that influenza vaccine.”

The public can get their flu shot with no appointment necessary at the public health office from 1-4 p.m. October 29th, and 8 a.m.-noon November 5th and November 19th. Cost is $30, though they will also be offering free Pfizer, Johnson and Johnson, and Moderna vaccines during those times. You can also get vaccinated by your healthcare provider, or at your local pharmacy.