The Fall River Department of Health and Human Services and the Greater Fall River Medical Reserve Corps (GFRMRC) invited City employees and the public to  get an annual flu shot while participating in a drill that helped the City prepare in the event of a public health emergency. Free flu shots were dispensed on November 28, 2007, to over 200 people in the lobby of the Robert J. Nagle Auditorium. The event was conducted as a training by the Medical Reserve Corps volunteers as if it were an emergency where large numbers of residents must be immunized within a short period of time. "The exercise went very well," commented Health and Human Services Director Michael Coughlin. "The volunteer did a superb job of working as a team. I'm confident that we will be able to respond well in an emergency because of exercises like this one," he added. For more information or to volunteer to become a responder in the future, contact Heather Salva at the Department of Health, 508-324-2410.  

(Top row, left) Margarite Heatton, R.N. gives Claire Camara of Fall River her flu shot. (Top row, center) Fall River Health Department Administrative Assistant Heather Salva and Health and Human Services Department Director Michael Coughlin oversee the event. (Top row, right) Nurse Linda Sarayo gives Fall River School Department employee Ron Gagnon his flu shot. (Middle row, left) Stanley Sikora is interviewed by retired volunteer LPN Brenda LePage. (Middle row, center) Fall River Grantwriter Jane Dibiasio volunteers at the registration table. (Bottom row, left) Fall River children's librarian Joyce Pinsoneault registers with volunteer Linda Coutinho from Stanley Street Treatment and Resources (SSTAR) . (Bottom row, right) SSTAR Family Healthcare Center Director Dee Wright prepares another flu injection.