Passport Health, American Lung Association;
Walking Together to Prevent The Flu

Flu Shots Available Saturday, October 18 At the Eastern Shore Asthma Walk in Salisbury 

Baltimore, MD – 10/15/2008- Just in time for flu season, Passport Health, the nation’s largest provider of travel medical services and vaccinations, will offer flu shots Saturday, October 18 at the Eastern Shore Asthma Walk held by the American Lung Association of Maryland.  Passport Health will offer flu shots from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the event in Salisbury, Md., at the Salisbury City Park/Zoo on North Park Drive at Pavillion.

Passport Health will donate a portion of the proceeds from each shot to the American Lung Association of Maryland. Shots, which are $30 each, can be paid for with cash or check. The Eastern Shore Asthma Walk raises money for the American Lung Association of Maryland to fight asthma and lung disease in all its forms through education, research and advocacy.

Those who cannot make it to the Asthma Walk can go online to buy a coupon for a flu shot redeemable at of the 165 Passport Health locations throughout the country and a portion of the proceeds will be donated.  “The donor receives something useful — a flu shot — while a portion of the proceeds go directly to the American Lung Association,” said Fran Lessans, CEO of Passport Health.

Vaccination is a safe and effective way to prevent influenza and its complications. The CDC recommends flu shots for children 6 months to18 years of age; adults over 50 years of age; pregnant women; anyone with chronic health conditions, such as asthma, COPD, heart disease, and diabetes; the immunocompromised and those who care for them. Influenza, along with its complications, is a serious respiratory illness. On average, 36,000 Americans die and about 226,000 people are hospitalized each year due to the flu.

“Despite serious health risks associated with influenza, many people who are at high risk of contracting the flu are not getting immunized,” says Norman Edelman, MD, Chief Medical Officer of the American Lung Association. “More than 4 out of 5 Americans should be vaccinated every year, which means it’s likely each one of us knows someone whose well-being, good health or life depends on getting an influenza immunization each and every year.”

To learn more about the Asthma Walk and flu coupons visit: http://www.marylandlung.org/, www.asthmawalk.org or http://www.passporthealthusacom.