Free Island-Wide Flu Clinic and Flu Information

In response to the recent statewide influenza outbreak, The Martha's Vineyard Hospital and town health agents from the six island towns plan to hold a free Island-wide flu clinic this weekend. The clinic will be held at 9 am on Sunday, January 13, in the physicians' wing in the old section of the hospital.


Do you have questions about the flu? Flu.gov provides one-stop access to U.S. Government information on H1N1, avian and pandemic flu. Other recommended resources are provided below.

Staying Healthy

The two most basic practices a person can do to help prevent catching and spreading germs and viruses are hand washing and covering your cough.

Hand Washing: People in the United States are being advised to be very diligent about hand washing. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides information on their web site about when and how you should wash your hands.

Covering Your Cough : Another important way to prevent the spread of diseases is to properly cover your cough. The CDC provides information on covering your cough.

Other Healthy Practices: There are several other steps the CDC recommends as ways to prevent the spread of flu and other diseases:

• Avoid close contact with those who are sick or when you are sick
• Stay home when you are sick. Keep your children home if they are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
• Practice other health habits of getting plenty of sleep, being physically active, drinking plenty of fluids and eat nutritious foods.

Additional Resources

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): information on the Seasonal Flu and Novovirus.


Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH): Flu Website includes information in English, Spanish and Portuguese.


Medline Plus: Flu information from the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).